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Check out the NEW Cancer Awareness Task Force Palm Card on Colon Cancer. Click Here.
This handy palm card is designed for you to print and by following the directions, cut into a palm-sized card that can fit in your wallet or calendar. That way you won't forget how important it is to be screened for colorectal cancer
Tip of the Month
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is on the rise. Yet skin cancer is largely preventable. As the summer months approach and we spend more time enjoying outdoor activities, here are simple steps you need to take to protect yourself and your family.
· do not receive more than a few minutes of unprotected sun exposure between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day;
· avoid tanning beds;
· wear protective clothing (hat, shirt, UV sunglasses, umbrella);
· apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor of 30 or higher twenty minutes before going outside (see chart below);
· get Vitamin D in a safe way. Your health care provider can check your levels and make the appropriate recommendations; and
· conduct monthly exams - for details on how to conduct such an exam, you can go to http://www.skincarephysicians.com/SkinCancerNet/skin_examinations.html
For more information check out our Sun Safety Bulletin.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Suffolk County Cancer Awareness Task Force is to educate residents regarding the prevention of cancer, and to increase access to care and expand cancer services for all county residents. The Task Force seeks to provide residents with actionable information and to serve as a model for other communities to follow.
Vision Statement
The vision of the Suffolk County Cancer Awareness Task Force is to improve the lives of county residents through the elimination of cancer in our community.
Background Information
The Cancer Awareness Task Force meets several times a year and helps to develop priorities and goals for the County in terms of addressing cancer awareness issues. An initiative of the County Executive, the Cancer Awareness Task Force is composed of anti-cancer advocates, medical care organizations, cancer researchers and County staff in the Departments of Health Services and Environment and Energy. The Cancer Awareness Task Force serves as a focal point for cancer awareness advocates and county agencies to address some of the issues facing the County. The four primary focus areas of the Task Force have been:
- Access to Care
- Prevention and Outreach
- Environmental Links
- Dissemination of Information to Diverse Populations
The Task Force works closely with the Office of Cancer Awareness and Environmental Assessment in the Department of Environment and Energy.
Suffolk County Cancer Awareness Task Force Subcommittees
The Task Force is composed of four committees:
The Access to Care Committee is addressing issues relating to increasing access to cancer care and to expand cancer services in Suffolk County so that every person in Suffolk County has access to comprehensive cancer care services.
The Prevention and Education Committee has been focusing on a cancer prevention strategy, ways to promote healthy lifestyles and behaviors, as well as reducing environmental exposures. The goal of this committee is to empower County residents through education on these prevention activities.
The Diverse Population Committee is identifying and addressing cancer health disparities among minority and medically underserved communities in Suffolk County. The goal of this committee is to ensure that minority and medically underserved populations are equipped with the resources necessary to make informed decisions about their health and healthcare needs.
The purpose of the Media Committee is to disseminate the information developed by the Task Force and committees. This committee has been involved in developing the logo, website and will assist with press releases and other public information dissemination.
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