Northern Plains Native American Cancer Plan

The Northern Plains Native American Cancer Plan 2008-2012 provides goals, objectives, and potential action steps for reducing the cancer burden on the Native population in the region.

The Cancer Plan is divided into six major areas with eight goals:

Prevention & Education

1. Reduce the incidence and mortality rates of cancer in Northern Plains Native American communities by promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing cancer related risk factors

Screening & Early Detection

2. Increase appropriate cancer screening for Northern Plains Native Americans so cancer is detected at earlier stages

Treatment & Traditional Healing

3. Ensure that all Native American community members with cancer in the Northern Plains receive access to quality western and traditional cancer care services and aftercare

The Cancer Journey (Survivorship, Caregivers, Palliation, and End of Life)

4. Assure that Northern Plains Native American cancer patients, their families, and their caregivers will have access to programs and services that address their physical, mental, and spiritual needs to improve the length and quality of their lives

5. Assure that Northern Plains Native American cancer patients, their families, and their caregivers have access to needed palliative and end of life services to improve the quality of their lives

Workforce

6. Ensure a sufficient and competently trained workforce who can provide culturally sensitive comprehensive cancer care for the Northern Plains Native American population.

Research & Surveillance

7. Make complete, accurate, and timely data on cancer available and accessible to the Northern Plains Native American tribal communities in order to inform and improve cancer health status

8. Increase awareness of cancer research projects and facilitate clinical trials and community-based participatory research to improve cancer health status among Native Americans in the Northern Plains