The Screening and Early Detection Workgroup of the New Mexico Cancer Council aims to improve screening, diagnosis and management of screen-detectable cancers for all eligible New Mexicans. Screening tests are used to find cancer before a person has any symptoms. Screening tests are available for breast cancer, colon and rectal cancer (often referred to as colorectal cancer), cervical cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.
Talk to your doctor about which cancer screening tests are important for you and at what age you should begin screening for different cancers.
Nationwide, and particularly in New Mexico, people who have lower household incomes and lower educational attainment, and who are uninsured or underinsured, have lower screening rates for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers than statewide and national averages. Screening uptake has been slow for lung cancer, and there are limited communication interventions to help individuals make decisions around screening and management for prostate and lung cancer. This workgroup supports the New Mexico Cancer Plan’s strategies for improving cancer screening rates through needs assessments, community outreach, provider education, patient navigation services and partnerships with clinics (including Federally Qualified Health Centers and Indian Health Services), health systems and communities.
Proven strategies to increase cancer screening rates typically work at more than one level—at the community level to increase awareness of the importance of cancer screening, at the individual level (such as reminding people when their screening tests are due) and at the health care provider and health system levels (such as electronic medical records to remind providers about which patients are due for screening, or quality improvement initiatives). The Screening and Early Detection Workgroup is committed to policy, systems and environmental changes to support the early detection of cancer and improved health through reduction in cancer mortality for all New Mexicans.
Members of the Screening and Early Detection Workgroup come from a variety of backgrounds. Clinical training is not necessary, and cancer survivors are encouraged to join. Improving cancer screening rates is a collaborative effort that starts with building trust between communities and health systems. We are open to newcomers who share a passion for improving the health of all New Mexicans.
For more information about joining this workgroup, contact Laura McGough at lauraj.mcgough@doh.nm.gov or Prajakta Adsul at padsul@salud.unm.edu.