When an individual is diagnosed with cancer, not only is there an increased medical burden (e.g., tests, treatments, therapies), but also an economic burden. As cancer progresses, the costs associated with treatment and the burdens of the disease begin piling up, leading to both economic distress and increased time living with disability. And that is just for one person with cancer.
Looking at the whole population, as we like to do in public health, shows cancer having a significant impact on health in the United States, and in Delaware. Not only the economic burdens due to lost wages and increased costs associated with treatment, but the increased years of life lost due to premature death, the decreased quality of life for cancer survivors, and the ongoing burden of disease, treatment, and remission.
We also wish to add a personal tribute to our guest co-editor Dr. Nick Petrelli. He has been a stalwart champion of the patient, first and foremost, for nearly a quarter century in his leadership role as the head of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at ChristianaCare in Delaware. He reprises his role as guest editor of this issue, as we also reflect on his legacy of patient care and advancing the health of populations.
Table of Contents
3 | In This Issue: Cancer and the Power of Preventive Screening
Omar A. Khan, M.D., M.H.S. and Katherine Smith, M.D., M.P.H.
4 | Cancer and the Power of Preventative Screening: We Have Come a Long Way
Nicholas Petrelli, M.D.
6 | American Cancer Society Annual Cancer Statistics 2024 Shows Drop in Cancer Mortality but Increasing Incidence for Six of the Top Ten Cancers
American Cancer Society
8 | Evaluating Quality of Cancer Care in Delaware using Commission on Cancer (CoC) Quality Measures, 2018-2019
Wilhelmina Ross, P.A., M.P.H.; Diane Ng, M.P.H.; Hayley Little, M.P.H.; Sumitha Nagarajan, M.P.H.; Paulette Robinson-Wilkerson, M.S.; Dawn Hollinger, M.S., M.A.
12 | Vaccines: An Emerging Multi-Modal Tool in the Fight Against Cancer
Valerie Lim, M.D. and Stephen C. Eppes, M.D.
16 | Hereditary Cancer Genetic Testing: 30 Years of Impact on Cancer Care
Kendra Flores, M.S., L.C.G.C.
22 | Lung Cancer Screening: Early Detection Decreases Mortality
Brian Nam, M.D.; Danny Hamm, M.S.N., R.N.; Nora Katurakes, M.S.N., R.N., O.C.N.; & Charles Mulligan, M.D., M.B.A.
26 | Development of Sub-County Cancer Reporting Zones in Delaware and Example Use Case for Targeted Interventions
Dawn Hollinger, M.S., M.A.; Sumitha Nagarajan, M.P.H.; Diane Ng, M.P.H.; Wilhelmina Ross, P.A., M.P.H.; Hayley Little, M.P.H.; Helen Arthur, M.H.A.
30 | Informing a Future Clinician-Led Virtual Reality Experience Through Oncology Caregivers’ Pre-Treatment Preparation Experiences
Susan Birkhoff, Ph.D., R.N.; Heidi Donovan, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N.; & Young Ji Lee, Ph.D., M.S., R.N.
36 | The DPH Bulletin – August 2024
38 | Sustaining Improvements in Colorectal Cancer Across Delaware: A Look at Racial Disparities a Decade Later
Diane Ng, M.P.H.; Stephanie Belinske, M.P.H.; Dawn Hollinger, M.S., M.A.; Sumitha Nagarajan, M.P.H.; Hayley Little, M.P.H.; Stephen Grubbs, M.D.; & Heather Bittner-Fagan, M.D., M.P.H.
46 | Reducing Breast Cancer Disparities with Precision Public Health: A New Strategy to Improve Prevention and Advance Health Equity in Delaware Hotspots
Scott D. Siegel, Ph.D., M.H.C.D.S.
52 | Fogarty International – Global Health Matters
64 | The DPH Bulletin – July 2024
68 | Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Delaware, 2016-2020
Delaware Division of Public Health
128 | Lexicon
129 | Resources