Don't Miss the Fall Meeting! | |
Registration Now Open
Join us on Oct. 30 at the Highland Conference Center in Mitchell for the 2025 South Dakota Cancer Coalition Fall Meeting: Rooted in Partnership, Growing in Purpose.
Don't miss this opportunity to network with coalition partners from across the state, hear from a variety of speakers and take a deep dive into our state's new five-year Cancer Plan!
Registration is free and lunch will be provided. Agenda is forthcoming.
Questions? Contact Megan or Shannon. See you in Mitchell!
| |
| |
|
Submission Guidelines
Abstract Submission: Submit a 300-500 word abstract that clearly outlines your presentation's objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.
Presenter Information: Include a brief bio of the presenter(s) and contact information.
Format: Oral presentations (20 minutes) or poster presentations.
Deadline: All submissions must be received by 5 pm CT Aug. 22.
|
|
Call for Presentations
The Cancer Coalition is excited to call for presentations for the upcoming 2025 Fall Meeting on Oct. 30 in Mitchell.
As we gather to address critical cancer-related issues, we invite you to participate by sharing your expertise and insights.
We encourage submissions that align with the following proposed themes and contribute to our collective efforts in reducing the burden of cancer in South Dakota.
Cutting-edge Research: Share your latest findings, breakthroughs, and innovations in cancer research.
Clinical Practices: Discuss evidence-based clinical practices, patient care, and treatment modalities.
Community Outreach and Education: Highlight successful community programs, awareness campaigns, and educational initiatives.
Survivorship and Support Services: Explore survivorship programs, patient support networks, and quality-of-life enhancements.
Policy, Systems and Environment Change: Address policy and systems changes, legislative updates, and advocacy efforts related to cancer care.
Questions? Contact Shannon or Megan.
| | | Nominate a Cancer Champion! | | |
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Cancer Coalition Cancer Champion Award, recognizing an individual who works to reduce cancer incidence and mortality while improving quality of life for cancer survivors.
The award will be presented at the annual Cancer Coalition Fall Meeting on Oct. 30 at the Highland Conference Center in Mitchell.
Nominations must be received via email by 5 pm CT Aug. 29.
The nominee should advance the goals of the SD Cancer Plan:
- Prevent cancer among South Dakotans
- Detect cancer in the earliest stages for all South Dakotans
- Ensure timely, fair, and appropriate access and treatment for all cancer patients in South Dakota
- Optimize quality of life for South Dakota cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers
- Address gaps in cancer care and work toward more consistent cancer outcomes across communities in South Dakota
- Support collaboration among stakeholders in South Dakota to reduce duplication and maximize impact.
Questions? Email Shannon or Megan.
| |
|
Submit Your Nominations
Nominations must include:
- Two to three examples of your nominee's impact on reducing the burden of cancer in our state
Deadline: All submissions must be received by 5 pm CT Aug. 29.
| | Sponsor the Fall Meeting! | | |
We’re excited to gather with members and partners on Oct. 30 in Mitchell for another day of networking and learning at the Cancer Coalition Fall Meeting.
To help make this year’s event a success, we’re inviting organizations and individuals to support the meeting as event sponsors. Your sponsorship helps us create a welcoming space for collaboration, cover event costs, and continue advancing our mission to reduce the burden of cancer in South Dakota.
Sponsors will receive recognition before, during and after the event and have the opportunity to:
- Be seen as a key supporter in the cancer prevention and control community;
- Network with dedicated Coalition partners from across the state; and
- Show your organization’s commitment to improving health and well-being in South Dakota.
If you or your organization is interested in sponsoring the Fall Meeting, please complete our short Sponsorship Interest Form, and we’ll follow up with more details and options.
| | Update: New South Dakota Cancer Plan | | |
Since January, we have been actively working to update the South Dakota Cancer Plan. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this important process.
The SDSU Evaluation team has been instrumental in the early stages, particularly in gathering feedback from the coalition. Their comprehensive guidance report helped us identify and refine key priority areas and objectives. With support from Chronic Disease Epidemiologist Laura Gudgeon and the Coalition Advisory Committee, we reviewed and finalized these updates.
Following that, the Data, Surveillance, and Evaluation Committee met to set target goals based on five-year trends within our state. The plan is now in the final formatting stage, and we are hopeful it will be ready for publication ahead of the Fall Meeting in October.
Once again, thank you to everyone who has supported this effort. It’s through the collaboration and dedication of this Coalition that we can make the greatest impact in reducing the burden of cancer for all South Dakotans.
| | Uneven Lung Cancer Outcomes Highlight Rural Needs | | |
|
Policy & Systems Change
How Can We Tackle This Issue?
Expand access to screening: Work with providers to implement lung cancer screening programs in community clinics and critical access hospitals, especially in rural and tribal areas.
Strengthen tobacco control: Invest in comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation strategies tailored to rural populations.
Improve access to care: Identify and address barriers to timely lung cancer diagnosis and treatment, such as transportation, provider shortages, and insurance gaps.
| | |
A new national study shows promising progress in reducing lung cancer deaths among some Americans who have historically faced the highest mortality rates, but people living in rural areas continue to face higher rates of lung cancer diagnoses and deaths.
Since the 1990s, lung cancer death rates have dropped more rapidly for Black men than for White men, effectively eliminating the racial mortality gap by 2017. However, the data also reveal a growing divide between rural and urban populations.
From 2013 to 2021, lung cancer deaths declined more steeply in urban areas than in rural ones across all groups.
Full study
| | |
SD Success Story: DOH Partners with Sanford to Increase HPV Vaccination Rates
The DOH Comprehensive Cancer Control Program partnered with Sanford Health to improve HPV vaccination rates, especially in rural and medically underserved areas. The initiative launched with five clinics and has now expanded to 45 primary care clinics statewide.
Key strategies included starting vaccination at age 9, using electronic health record reminders, standing nursing orders, personalized follow-up calls, and provider education to address hesitancy and improve communication.
These efforts led to strong results. Among 9-10-year-olds, first-dose coverage rose from 0.7 percent to 20.9 percent, and series completion reached 6.9 percent. Overall, more than 132,000 HPV vaccine doses have been administered in under five years. The percentage of adolescents 13–17 up to date on the HPV series improved from 49.5 percent to 74.7 percent, surpassing the original 60 percent target.
Sanford Health has now fully integrated these changes into its system, with ongoing monitoring, staff training, and outreach to maintain and improve vaccination rates, helping reduce future HPV-related cancers across South Dakota.
Full article
| | | |
Partner Press
Cancer News from South Dakota
| | All Women Count! Featured on SDPB | | |
| |
DOH Cancer Program Manager Sarah Quail recently appeared on South Dakota Public Broadcasting's In The Moment radio show to discuss All Women Count!
The All Women Count! program makes breast and cervical cancer screenings accessible for eligible South Dakota women. Mammograms, Pap smears, and related exams are available at no cost through participating doctors' offices, mammography units, family planning centers, and health clinics.
Listen to the show
| | |
|
|
Second Summer Social a Success!
The Coalition held its second-annual Summer Social on June 12 at Startup Sioux Falls, featuring a brief update on task force and grantee activities over the past year, followed by member networking on the patio.
With another strong turnout, the event served as an opportunity for collaboration for Coalition partners in a more casual setting and a valuable opportunity for networking, education, and member outreach.
| | | | Upcoming Events & Webinars | | Want to help plan upcoming Cancer Coalition events such as the Summer Social and the annual Fall Meeting in October? We're looking for committee members interested in membership and marketing! Contact Megan Myers for more info. | | |
|
Empower SD Diabetes Conference
August 8-9
Sioux Falls
| |
The Blue Move 5K Run/Walk
August 9
9 am CT
Sioux Falls
|
|
| | |
Great Plains Good Health and Community Wellness Symposium
August 19-20
Box Elder
| | | |
American Cancer Society & Sanford Research: Meet a Researcher
September 17
Noon CT
Sioux Falls
| | Grant & Award Opportunities | | Funding for this publication was made possible (in part) by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. The views expressed in written materials or publications do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. | | | | |
