Blog

Mourning the Passing of Gail Orcutt

With extreme gratitude, the Iowa Cancer Consortium Board of Directors and staff remember our longtime friend and colleague, Gail Orcutt. We also recognize her extraordinary contribution to radon-control advocacy and cancer control in Iowa. Gail was a member of the Iowa Cancer Consortium for nearly ten years. Additionally, she was a founding member of the…

Announcing: COVID-19 Cancer Patient Transportation and Lodging Initiative

A few weeks ago, we asked our partners to share their needs related to cancer and the emerging threat of coronavirus. We listened, and heard transportation support for cancer patients undergoing treatment during this time was a big need. In alignment with the Consortium’s mission and contract with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH),…

Tips for Social Distancing Outdoors

By: Anne Abbott Physical activity has been linked with a range of benefits to physical and mental health.  One of the benefits most recognized by Iowa Cancer Consortium members is that regular physical activity has been found to decrease risk for a range of different cancers including highly prevalent cancers like breast and colorectal. This…

Coronavirus and Cancer

By: Virginia Barrette, MHA, American Cancer Society I’m not sure about everyone else, but I’ve spent a lot of time over the past few weeks thinking about the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s everywhere–social media, the nightly news, and in conversations with loved ones. As many of our lives have been disrupted, the impact is much greater…

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

By: Kelly Hendershot, LMSW, LSW Throughout the month of March, you’re likely to see people wearing blue in support of those diagnosed with colorectal cancer, as well as social media campaigns using poop emojis. You’ll most definitely hear a lot about the importance of getting your colonoscopy, at what age to do so and even…

2020 ACS CAN Iowa Day at the Capitol Recap

By: Bridget Toomey, MS, CPC On Wednesday February 5, 2020, 75 advocates took to the steps of the Iowa State Capitol to speak to their representatives about cancer policy. Advocates, including many Iowa Cancer Consortium members, came from around the state to team up with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the…

Meet Our Practicum Students

We’re excited to announce not just one, but five practicum students who we are happy to call part of our team: Kris Curtis, Chelsea Keenan, Abigail Lee, Sneha Phadke and Erin Taber. Our newest interns have jumped right in, so you may have already met them during workgroup and committee meetings. But we felt more…

Above + Beyond Cancer: Expanding & Transforming Lives

By: Mary Van Heukelom, Program Director and Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer for Above + Beyond Cancer “Living with ‘maybe-maybe not’ can be hard. I was frustrated, out of shape, and feeling low. I needed this program to be strong again. My mind, body, and soul were a bit broken. I yearned to be around people who…

Understanding Lynch Syndrome

My name is Judy Smelser Mitchell.  I have Lynch syndrome. What is Lynch Syndrome Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), is the most common cause of hereditary colorectal cancer. People with Lynch syndrome typically acquire their cancer at a younger age (before 50) with the most common cancer sites being colon…

Radon-Induced Lung Cancer: Gail’s Journey

 Recording provided by: Energy Association of Iowa Schools Radon is a very serious problem but has a very simple solution. And that is just to test and mitigate. My name’s Gail Orcutt and I was an Iowa teacher for 33 years. Two years after I retired, I had a cough and a wheeze. (I)…