CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Mountains of Hope Cancer Coalition will release a strategic plan for reducing the impact of cancer in West Virginia on Thursday, April 21st. The West Virginia Cancer Plan 2016-2020 is a five-year plan that creates a framework to direct activities and encourage collaboration throughout the state.
The Plan identifies key goals, aims, and objectives across the continuum of cancer care ranging from prevention, early detection and treatment, to survivorship and end of life.
“All West Virginians deserve to learn about how to prevent cancer, the importance of detecting it early and how to have excellent quality of life through cancer survivorship,” said Jean Tenney, a Mountains of Member from Webster County. “This plan creates a roadmap which state leaders can follow to reduce cancer incidence and mortality.”
According to the American Cancer Society, 11,770 West Virginians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and 4,750 are projected to lose their lives to the disease. Lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers are expected to account for nearly half of all cancers diagnosed in the state.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in West Virginia, behind heart disease. But if the trends continue, cancer will become the state’s leading cause of death in the next decade.
Mountains of Hope is a group of individuals and organizations in West Virginia who want to be part of the effort to reduce the impact of cancer in the state. They represent a variety of organizations and interest areas, including state and local governments; private and nonprofit organizations; health, medical, and business communities; academic institutions; researchers; cancer survivors; caregivers; and advocates.
To review the West Virginia Cancer Plan 2016-2020 and join the Mountains of Hope Cancer Coalition go to wvmountainsofhope.org or call 304-293-2370.