About the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program

Overview

Established in 1998, CDC's National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP) provides funds, guidance, and technical assistance to cancer prevention and control programs. These programs work with groups called cancer coalitions to reduce cancer in state, tribal, or local areas. Cancer coalitions create and carry out plans to prevent and control cancer.

The NCCCP supports:

• All 50 states and the District of Columbia.
• 8 U.S. territories and freely associated states.
• 7 tribes and tribal organizations.

The program focuses on:

• Using data to drive decisions.
• Keeping strong partnerships.
• Using best practices to improve policies, systems, and environments related to cancer.
• Measuring how well the programs are working and what impact they have.

Priorities

CDC has six priorities for the cancer control programs it funds:

1. Promote prevention. The best way to reduce cancer is to stop it before it starts. Primary prevention helps people lower their risk of getting cancer. Examples include helping people get vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), quit using tobacco, and protect their skin from too much exposure to the sun.
2. Help people find cancer early by getting screened at the right time. Screening for cervical cancer and colorectal (colon) cancer can prevent cancer by finding lesions that can be treated or removed before they turn into cancer. Screening for cervical, colorectal, breast, and lung cancers can find these diseases at an early stage, when treatment works best.
3. Support people diagnosed with cancer (survivors) through their treatment and beyond. Cancer control programs assess survivors' needs, provide education and patient navigation, and improve access to cancer resources and services.
4. Provide proven strategies for states, health care networks, and others to put into place. These strategies help make sure cancer control efforts work for everyone who needs them.
5. Promote access to good health care for everyone. Maintain a culturally competent workforce, promote access to resources, and improve research and surveillance.
6. Study policies and programs to make sure they work. Evaluation drives public health decision-making by identifying what works and where resources need to be invested.

Cancer control nationwide

While states, tribes, and territories have cancer coalitions, a national group also works to strengthen efforts across the country to control and prevent cancer. CDC is a member of the Comprehensive Cancer Control National Partnership. The partnership helps cancer coalitions develop, implement, and evaluate cancer control plans.