Cancer patients are also assisted with obtaining continuing cancer care. Additional sites are being added as the project progresses. Physicians and nurses in the clinical sites have undergone training to learn how to provide smoking cessation counseling. Patients who smoke are being identified and enrolled in a counseling program. If necessary, nicotine patches and gum are available to help patients cope with nicotine cravings.
Patients are also in touch with telephone counselors trained in relapse prevention.
Primary care settings need help. We have developed an affordable and effective intervention. The cancer prevention aspect of the program encourages patients to make positive health changes through eating low-fat foods, increasing their physical activity and using health resources available in their communities. We make it engaging and fun through activities so that people feel empowered to make positive changes in their lives. The third part of the study, the screening and early detection program, is implementing a model for cancer control continuum of care within managed care organizations.