UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Methods: Partnerships with diverse stakeholders are the foundation of the ECCC and enable it to better understand community perspectives to reach the populations most affected by cancer. The Essex County Cancer Capacity and Needs Assessment identified disparities in cancer rates by race and previously unrecognized key issues (e.g., high incidence and mortality rates for oral and prostate cancers compared to the state). All ECCC stakeholders help provide direction for ECCC activities, assisted by a structure involving committees and electronic communication. Additional stakeholders who share common goals and interests are identified and recruited by ECCC members and state-level cancer control planners, including leaders of neighboring county coalitions.

Results: The ECCC expanded in size and breadth to include committed stakeholders and additional expertise. New partnerships have facilitated engaging nationally known speakers to present at quarterly meetings on current, local cancer education and screening efforts, and developing new collaborations. These partnerships include The Prostate Net, Oral Cancer Consortium, and Essex County Communities Against Tobacco Coalition, which are facilitating new efforts that address the prostate and oral cancer priorities identified above. Detailed description of these activities will be provided. A monthly calendar of cancer-related county events is being compiled and distributed widely.