Comprehensive Cancer Control
With funding from the Kentucky Dept. for Public Health (KDPH), the KCP worked with organizations across the state to develop a Cancer Action Plan for Kentucky (PDF) , which was completed in January 2001. Two years later, KCP received a five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish a statewide consortium to facilitate the implementation of the plan. The award was the result of a collaborative effort between KCP, KDPH, and the American Cancer Society.Comprehensive Cancer Control presents a tremendous opportunity for Kentucky to expand existing cancer prevention and control efforts through enhanced coordination and collaboration. The KCP supports the activities of the Kentucky Cancer Consortium and serves as a member of the Steering Committee.

County Breast and Cervical Cancer Coalitions
The KCP works with community partners to increase breast and cervical cancer screening among medically underserved women. The KCP has worked closely with the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) to organize more than 40 breast and cervical cancer coalitions across the state. These coalitions conduct outreach activities to promote breast and cervical cancer screening for low-income women through the Kentucky Women's Cancer Screening Program.

The Cooper/Clayton Method to Stop Smoking
Since 2001 the KCP has provided facilitator training and assisted with program development and evaluation for the Cooper/Clayton Method to Stop Smoking. This successful science-based smoking cessation program uses education, skills training, and social support in combination with use of nicotine replacement products. One-hour weekly classes are spread over 13 weeks. There is also a Cooper/Clayton Self Help program available for people who cannot, or prefer not to, participate in a class.

The program was started more than 20 years ago by University of Kentucky faculty members Thomas Cooper, a dentist and former heavy smoker, and Richard Clayton, an expert on drug addiction. Since 2001 KCP has trained over 700 facilitators in collaboration with Drs. Cooper and Clayton. Facilitator refresher courses also are offered.

Indian Summer Camp
Indian Summer Camp has enriched the lives of more than 700 kids with cancer over the past two decades. KCP founded Indian Summer Camp, a one-week program for children ages 7-17 who have or have had cancer, in 1981. We provide continuing leadership with KCP Cancer Control Specialist Amy Steinkuhl currently serving as Camp Director. Held each summer at Camp Cedarmore near Bagdad, Ky., the camp offers swimming, crafts, hiking, fishing, archery, and campfires under the stars.

Horses and Hope
Horses and Hope is a partnership involving First Lady Jane Beshear, the Pink Stable Committee (racing industry representatives), and the Kentucky Cancer Program (KCP). The campaign includes Pink Race Days for fans and Education and Screening Days for workers at Kentucky’s thoroughbred race tracks. The goals are to increase breast cancer awareness, provide breast cancer education and on-site mammograms for the workers, and recognize survivors. Supporters include the Kentucky Breast Cancer Research Trust Fund, the Kentucky Racing Welfare and Trust Fund, local health departments, community organizations, and volunteers. Contact: Connie Sorrell at (502) 852-6318. See photos.

Love on a Leash Therapy Dogs Program
The national Love on a Leash (LOAL) Therapy Dogs Program is benefiting cancer patients in Somerset, Ky. The program provides therapeutic visits by trained, certified and insured therapy dog teams which visit regularly in hospitals, at the cancer center, and through the hospice program. Therapy dogs provide many health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, increasing "feel good" endorfins, improved self esteem, and have even been effective in comfort giving measures and pain control.  Therapy dogs often reach many patients and clients when nothing else does. LOAL is an all-volunteer program of the nonprofit Foundation for Pet Provided Therapy. For more information on the program in Somerset, contact Gloria Sams.

NOAAH
NOAAH (Navigating Obstacles for African-American Health) is a new coalition of business leaders, health professionals, church and community leaders, cancer survivors, and others who are committed to decreasing the high cancer burden among African Americans. The group is supported by the Kentucky Cancer Program at the University of Kentucky. See NOAAH's web page.

Providers Practice Prevention
A continuing education series on cancer related topics for health care professionals, Providers Practice Prevention (PPP) was developed by the KCP West at the University of Louisville. PPP kits on cervical cancer screening and tobacco use and dependence are currently available. For more inforamation, click on the link above.  

SURVIVOR ALERT
The KCP distributes materials and maintains a Web site for the national SURVIVOR ALERT initiative to educate young adult survivors of childhood cancer about the long-term effects of their disease, as well as the importance of keeping a complete health history and getting long-term follow-up care. The initiative kicked off in the summer and fall of 2006 with a series of educational events around the country, which were coordinated by the KCP. The inspiration for the SURVIVOR ALERT initiative was A Lion in the House, a groundbreaking documentary on childhood cancer that aired on PBS stations in June 2006.

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