Occupational skin dose from radionuclide contamination: one country's approach at standardising skin dose estimates using Varskin.

The manipulation of unsealed radiopharmaceuticals by healthcare workers can cause accidental personal contamination leading to occupational radiation skin dose. The UK Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 require that potential skin doses arising from reasonably foreseeable accident scenarios are included in risk assessments. Workers must be designated as classified if these dose estimates exceed 150 mSv equivalent dose averaged over 1 cm.

Black ceiling tiles reduce occupational ultraviolet light exposure from phototherapy cabinets.

Phototherapy clinics administer ultraviolet (UV) light to patients using phototherapy cabinets. The UV radiation from these cabinets is reflected on the white ceiling tiles of the clinic and is then redirected toward both staff and patients in the area. This is particularly problematic for clinical technologists who must undertake dosimetry in these areas and have a specific time (often as low as 30 min) before they reach their maximum exposure limit.

Collective pursuit for equity in cancer care: The National Navigation Roundtable.

Background: The evidence continues to build in support of implementing patient navigation to reduce barriers and increase access to care. However, health disparities remain in cancer outcomes. The goal of the National Navigation Roundtable (NNRT) is to serve as a convener to help support the field of navigation to address equity.

The American Cancer Society and patient navigation: Past and future perspectives.

Over the past 30 years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) has played a key role in shaping the field of patient navigation as a means to address cancer disparities. Through collaborations with organizations like the National Navigation Roundtable and the ACS Cancer Action Network, the ACS is uniquely positioned to help develop sustainable navigation models that directly address disparities in access to quality cancer care. As health systems continue to adapt and change in response to various factors, including an aging population and rapid advances in screening and treatment, it is important to evaluate existing navigation-delivery models and promote those that are sustainable while maximizing reach and impact and providing the greatest return on investment (ROI).

Implementation of a Lung Cancer Screening Program in Two Federally Qualified Health Centers.

Using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) to screen for lung cancer is associated with improved outcomes among eligible current and former smokers (ie, aged 55-77, at least 30-pack-year smoking history, current smoker or former smoker who quit within the past 15 years). However, the overall uptake of LDCT is low, especially in health care settings with limited personnel and financial resources. To increase access to lung cancer screening services, the American Cancer Society partnered with 2 federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Tennessee and West Virginia to conduct a pilot project focused on developing and refining the LDCT screening referral processes and practices.

The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable: Past Performance, Current and Future Goals.

The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) is an organization of organizations with staffing, funding and leadership provided by the American Cancer Society (ACS) and guidance and funding by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2014, ACS, CDC, and the NCCRT launched the 80% by 2018 campaign. This highly successful initiative activated hundreds of organizations to prioritize colorectal cancer screening, disseminated smart, evidence-based interventions, and ultimately led to 9.

Preparedness and Cancer-Related Symptom Management among Cancer Survivors in the First Year Post-Treatment.

Background: Many cancer survivors feel unprepared for the physical and psychosocial challenges that accompany the post-treatment care transition (i.e., re-entry phase), including management of cancer-related symptoms.

Practical solutions when facing cost sharing: the American Cancer Society's Health Insurance Assistance Service.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has been a leading voice for healthcare reform and an informed advocate for effective health insurance reforms. Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the ACS has observed a shift in inquiries to its Health Insurance Assistance Service (HIAS) from individuals seeking coverage, to a growing problem of individuals presenting issues from being underinsured. Underinsured patients with cancer face serious financial challenges due to large co-pays and coinsurance costs.

The American Cancer Society's Approach to Addressing the Cancer Burden in the LGBT Community.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has embraced the achievement of equity in cancer-related health outcomes as a foundational principle. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals experience health disparities related to certain risk factors for cancer and in certain cancer outcomes. Accordingly, the ACS is defining a new program of work in partnership with the LGBT community to help understand and reduce disparities in cancer risk factors and outcomes.

American Cancer Society Colorectal Cancer Survivorship Care Guidelines.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and third leading cause of cancer death in both men and women and second leading cause of cancer death when men and women are combined in the United States (US). Almost two-thirds of CRC survivors are living 5 years after diagnosis. Considering the recent decline in both incidence and mortality, the prevalence of CRC survivors is likely to increase dramatically over the coming decades with the increase in rates of CRC screening, further advances in early detection and treatment and the aging and growth of the US population.

Advancing survivorship care through the National Cancer Survivorship Resource Center: developing American Cancer Society guidelines for primary care providers.

The National Cancer Survivorship Resource Center (The Survivorship Center) began in 2010 as a collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the George Washington University Cancer Institute and was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Survivorship Center aims to improve the overall health and quality of life of posttreatment cancer survivors. One key to addressing the needs of this ever-growing population is to develop clinical follow-up care guidelines that emphasize not only the importance of surveillance for cancer recurrence, but also address the assessment and management of the physical and psychosocial long-term and late effects that may result from having cancer and undergoing cancer treatment as well as highlight the importance of healthy behaviors that can reduce the risk of cancer recurrence, second primary cancers, and other chronic diseases.

Documenting the health insurance needs of cancer patients and providing scarce resolutions.

The American Cancer Society's Health Insurance Assistance Service provides callers to its National Cancer Information Center with detailed knowledge to help them access or maintain health insurance coverage for which they might be eligible. Demographic data from April 2009 to June 2011 show that 76 % were uninsured and between the ages of 40-60; 65 % were Caucasian, 17 % African American, and 12% Hispanic; and monthly incomes were $1,999 or less. Current trends indicate that callers are similar to those identified in various health care reform publications: callers are unable to afford co-pays; facilities are requesting cash upfront; callers report loss of coverage, less adequate or less affordable coverage from employers; large out-of-pocket expense or high deductibles are needed; and modification of the CDC's Breast and Cervical Screening Program's eligibility guidelines create challenges.

Milestones in mission: the work of the American Cancer Society's mission delivery.

Since its founding in 1913, the American Cancer Society (the Society) has played a prominent role in the fight against cancer. Through its presence in over 5,000 communities around the nation, the Society has explored and pursued innovative ideas, searched for breakthroughs, and pushed to have the nation understand the complexities of the disease. Ongoing assessment of the cancer problem, thoughtful strategic planning, and promotion of evidence-based cancer control programs are integral to the Society's mission.

Outcomes of a cancer clinical trial matching service.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) and Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups (CCCG) provide a clinical trial (CT) information/matching/eligibility service (Clinical Trials Matching Service [CTMS]). Patients' demographic and clinical data, enrollment status, and self-reported barriers to CT participation were analyzed to assess enrollment rates and determinants of enrollment. During 3 years beginning October 1, 2007, the CTMS served 6,903 patients via the ACS call center.

Colorectal cancer screening perceptions and practices: results from a national survey of gastroenterology, surgery and radiology trainees.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in the United States is suboptimal. We conducted a national survey to learn about CRC screening perceptions and practices among trainees who perform CRC screening tests including those enrolled in Gastroenterology and Hepatology (GIH), General and Colorectal Surgery, and Diagnostic and Abdominal Radiology training programs.

Methods: Program directors/administrators (PDs/PAs) from 642 programs were contacted by e-mail with an invitation to forward our survey to trainees in their programs.

Colorectal cancer screening education, prioritization, and self-perceived preparedness among primary care residents: data from a national survey.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening remains underutilized in the United States. We conducted a national survey of CRC screening education, prioritization, and self-perceived preparedness among resident physicians in Family Practice (FP), Internal Medicine (IM), and Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) training programs.

Methods: Directors/administrators from 1085 FP, IM, and OB/GYN training programs were contacted by e-mail with a request to forward an invitation to participate in our Web-based CRC screening education survey to all residents in their program.