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On Feb. 8, the Cancer Action Coalition of Virginia (CACV) released the 2023-2027 Virginia Cancer Plan. It is designed to act as a roadmap to help Virginia residents address the burden of cancer over the next five years.

VCU Massey Cancer Center is among the cancer centers, public health agencies, community organizations, individuals and families that make up the CACV.

“Lessening Virginia’s cancer burden is our shared vision,” said Robert A. Winn, M.D., director and Lipman chair in oncology at Massey. “I have no doubt in my mind that the goals outlined in the 2023-2027 plan are achievable as we continue our work to provide education and develop action plans to increase cancer screening and reduce risk factors for the people we serve.”

The 2023-2027 Virginia Cancer Plan offers strategies for reaching the following 18 goals for Virginians:

• Reduce exposure to and use of tobacco products
• Increase the adoption of dietary patterns recommended to reduce cancer risk
• Improve physical activity
• Decrease underage and excessive alcohol consumption
• Increase prevention and treatment of carcinogenic infectious diseases
• Reduce overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and indoor tanning devices
• Reduce exposure to radon and other environmental substances linked to cancer
• Increase high-quality cancer screening and early detection rates
• Increase availability and access to current evidence-based diagnosis and treatment options following national standards
• Reduce socioeconomic, structural, cultural and workforce barriers to obtaining quality diagnosis and treatment
• Increase the number and diversity of cancer patients enrolled in clinical research trials
• Establish a system for regular collection of data regarding cancer care across the Commonwealth of Virginia
• Optimize the quality of life for patients and caregivers across the cancer continuum
• Improve access to quality treatment and timely medical information for patients and their families
• Improve long-term follow-up care for childhood cancer survivors
• Improve support services for pediatric patients, survivors and their families
• Increase awareness of palliative care strategies for children with cancer among healthcare providers, patients and families
• Address financial burdens of pediatric patients, survivors and their families

“It will take collaborative efforts within clinical and community sectors working across professional disciplines to promote the plan, implement its strategies and evaluate its successes in the fight against cancer,” said Colin M. Greene, M.D., MPH, the state health commissioner of Virginia, in a statement included in the plan. “All Virginians play an important role in addressing the impact of cancer in our communities.”

The 2023-2027 Virginia Cancer Plan includes health equity as a key focus.

“Each of us has an equal right to health care, support and compassion, and we all have a role to play in reducing the burden of cancer,” said Jessica Deering, executive director of CACV. “This plan will provide the direction to better understand and reduce cancer disparities through research, education and clinical practice.”

The 2023-2027 Virginia Cancer Plan also recognizes progress made toward achieving the objectives outlined in the 2018-2022 plan:

1. A decrease in smoking among Virginia adults
2. An increase in the percentage of 13–17-year-olds who complete the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination series
3. An increase in the percentage of lung cancer diagnoses at the local stage
4. Securing state funding to address the needs of childhood cancer survivors

However, the plan acknowledges that cancer remains a leading cause of death in Virginia and is a public health concern. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 47,100 Virginians will receive a new cancer diagnosis in 2022, while 15,800 people are expected to die from cancer.

This Virginia Cancer Plan is the fifth released since 1998 when the CACV formed as the Cancer Plan Advisory Committee. A team of volunteers developed the first plan under the guidance of the Virginia Department of Health. It has been updated every five years by the Virginia Cancer Plan Advisory Committee.

Read the 2023-2027 Virginia Cancer Plan here

Written by: Amy Lacey