VERMONTERS TAKING ACTION AGAINST CANCER | VTAAC

Welcome to the VTAAC Cancer Survivorship Resource Center. These resources are for cancer patients and survivors, as well as their caregivers and families. You can either search by category, choosing from the list below, or see the full list of resources farther down on the page. Please click on a resource for a brief description, as well as information on requirements, cost, website and contact information.

Is your resource missing from this list? Please fill out this form to have your resource added:

Questions? Email Hanna Snyder, Coalition Coordinator:

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All Resources (Listed Alphabetically)

Cancer Patient Support Foundation

Cancer Patient Support Foundation provides financial assistance and support and acts as a resource for cancer patients during diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

Camp Kesem

We believe all children facing a parent’s cancer deserve the chance to fully experience the joys of childhood and be their best selves. We provide year-long support and a week-long summer camp for our campers and families.

Mahana Magic Foundation

Supporting the children of cancer patients and their caregivers. Offering both emotional and financial support to Vermont families.

Open Channels Energy Therapy

Open Channels provides energy healing and spiritual mentoring to holistically support mind, body, and spirit.

Sail Beyond Cancer

Honoring those being challenged by cancer by harnessing the healing powers of wind, water, and sail.

The American Childhood Cancer Organization

We are a community of families, survivors, and friends who have been affected by childhood and adolescent cancer. We offer our community support, information, advocacy. We are their voice.

Vermont Cancer Support Network

VCSN improves the quality of life for Vermonters living with cancer by: Providing programs of support, information, education, and celebration Maintaining a comprehensive list of support resources Working with other cancer-related organizations to reduce the burden of cancer on Vermonters

You First

You First helps Vermont women and anyone with breasts or a cervix get screened for cancer and reduce health health risks.

VTAAC Annual Cancer Summit Session Recording

Please view the Annual Cancer Summit recording on YouTube (below). Below the video, there are copies of the presenter slide decks, along with attendee lists, exhibitor lists, speaker bios and the event’s agenda. We hope you will use this as a resource moving forward!

Speaker Session Slide Decks

Tim Kavanagh (Keynote) Video

Mammography Screening Trends in Vermont and Beyond (Dr. Brian Sprague and Dr. Sarah Nowak)

Cancer in Vermont: A Data Perspective (Lauren Ressue)

A Culturally Responsive Care Model for Breast Cancer Screening in Non-English Speaking Patients (Kerry Goulette)

Hospital Systems Capacity Building (HSCB) Initiative (Rebecca Hewson-Steller)

Food Insecurity & Health: The Problem & (some) Solutions (Suzanne Kelley)

Navigating a Cancer Journey (Polly Macpherson)

Agenda, Speaker Bios, Attendee List, Exhibitor List

Coalition Activities Highlight

Thank you for joining!

The Colorectal Cancer Taskforce worked with FIGHT Colorectal Cancer to co-brand three toolkits to be shared widely. The three guides are for (1) patients/caregivers, (2) providers/medical offices and (3) insurance companies/clinics to inform them of coverage costs for follow-up colonoscopies. Each guide has information pertinent for each particular audience, as well as links to additional resources to learn more.

Please click on the black buttons to download the toolkits (PDF format).

Follow-Up Colonoscopy Toolkit for Patients

Follow-Up Colonoscopy for Providers and Medical Offices

Follow-Up Colonoscopy for Insurance Companies and Clinics

The VTAAC Prevention & Detection Workgroup created a new Cancer Screening Guide that follows USPSTF Cancer Screening Guidelines.

We hope this short infographic provides helpful information to be shared with patients, providers and the wider community.

To download this 8.5×11 one page (double-sided) document, click the download button below.

HPV is a very common virus that almost everyone will have at some point in their lives. HPV infection can cause several types of cancer, including cancers of the head/neck and cervix. HPV can cause cancer in both men and women. Among Vermonters, the rate of adolescents who have completed the HPV vaccine series varies widely across the state, with most counties falling under the statewide rate (59%) (Vermont Department of Health, Vermont Immunization Registry, 2021).

The HPV vaccine prevents cancer. Both boys and girls, starting at age 9, can get the vaccine. The vaccine is safe and effective. For more information on HPV, the vaccine and HPV-related cancers, visit https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/index.html.  

Goal 4 in the Vermont State Cancer Plan  is to Prevent Human Papillmavirus (HPV) infections in young vermonters. You can find the full list of objectives and strategies in the cancer plan. In an effort to increase the percent of eligible Vermonters who have completed the HPV vaccine series, the HPV Taskforce came together in the spring of 2023 to create two call-to-action letters.

The call-to-action letters encourage providers to recommend HPV vaccinations beginning at age 9.

Please find the two letters below and share widely with your networks!

Vermont Health Care Provider Call-to-Action Letter

Vermont Dental Health Care Provider Call-To-Action Letter

To learn more about the HPV Taskforce, and to get involved, click here.

Please reach to coordinator@vtaac.org with questions.

Ways to Participate

Virtual: If you cannot make the drive to Essex, we encourage you to attend virtually through Zoom. Virtual attendees can participate in sessions with the ability to ask questions and engage with the content being shared via chat. The Zoom link will be emailed to virtual participants as we get closer.

In-Person: The Summit will also be held in-person in The Atrium Room at The Essex Resort & Spa in Essex, VT. This is a great opportunity to meet with peers and grow a deeper community connection. Please find directions and parking information on The Essex Resort & Spa website HERE. Additionally, if you’re looking to book a room at the hotel, use this Corporate Club rate link: https://be.synxis.com/?chain=30609&hotel=34805&promo=CORCLB.

Keynote: Tim Kavanagh!

Tim is the owner of SAMSON Productions, an entertainment company that has produced numerous variety and comedy improv shows as well as award winning television, film, and stage productions. Tim is in a film ‘Sweetwater’ that was just released nationwide on April 14^th. He also played a part in the upcoming Tim Burton film ‘Beetlejuice2’. He is also very active with speaking engagements with his one man show that is a self-deprecating look at his own cancer journey called “The Shit Show”. Speaking engagements have included local, regional and national appearances. Tim also is co-owner of GameshowsVT, which offers high-energy entertainment with team building game shows to businesses and organizations. 

Tim has over three decades of experience in hospitality, marketing, relationship management, business engagement, and public speaking with an emphasis on project management and strategic planning. A native Vermonter, Tim enjoys family time with his wife, five children and grandchildren and their rescue dog Adora. 

Tkavanagh.com

Imdb.com/me/timkavanagh

Exhibit at the Cancer Summit

Exhibiting at the VTAAC Annual Cancer Summit gives you the opportunity to showcase your organization and network with its attendees. It is a chance to connect with others in cancer control and highlight your organization.

Please see below for Exhibit Sponsor ($250) and Non-Profit Exhibitor (Free) for details on this year’s exhibiting options.

Sponsorship Levels

To become a sponsor:

1. Review the sponsorship levels and benefits below.
2. Complete the Sponsorship Registration Form (coming soon!)
3. Submit payment using the Online Payment Portal or by mailing a check.
   • Please note: for all registrations EXCEPT non-profit organizations who select free attendance, your registration will not be complete until you make your payment.
   • Online Payment Portal: The online payment portal is on the UVM Foundation’s website (also linked in your registration confirmation email). The link will redirect you to a UVM donation page, but the funds will be allocated for the VTAAC Annual Cancer Summit. 
   • Checks: If you would prefer to mail a check, please have checks written out to the UVM Foundation with “UVMCC – VTAAC Fund 400768” in the memo line and mail to: The University of Vermont Foundation 411 Main St. Burlington, VT 05401.

Impact Awards

The VTAAC Impact Award is to recognize excellence in reducing Vermont’s cancer burden.  Awards will honor those who have made extraordinary contributions to addressing cancer prevention, detection, treatment and/or survivorship.  Three awards will be presented, to support the efforts of individuals supporting (a) VTAAC-related activities and (b) Activities external to VTAAC.

We’ll be presenting the Impact Awards towards the end of lunch – be sure to tune in if joining virtually!

Agenda At-A-Glance

Virtual Participants: Virtual participants will be emailed a Zoom link and corresponding presentation materials. Participation will be possible during Q+A sessions via the Zoom chat. Recordings of the sessions will be made available to the public and posted on VTAAC’s website within two weeks of the event.

9 AM | Registration / Light Breakfast / Exhibitors Open

9:30 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks | Hanna Snyder, VTAAC Coalition Coordinator

9:40 AM | The Shit Show | Tim Kavanagh, Comedian & Actor

10:10 AM | Trends in Mammography Screening in Vermont and Beyond | Brian Sprague, PhD and Sarah Novak, PhD, UVM Cancer Center

10:40 AM | Break & Light Refreshments 

11 AM | Cancer in Vermont: A Data Perspective | Lauren Ressue, PhD, Data Analyst, Vermont Department of Health

11:25 AM | Equity Focused Cancer Prevention and Control in Vermont | Panel Discussion

• Moderated by Nancy Kaplan, MS, NNE-CTR, Larner College of Medicine, UVM
• Panelists:
  • Kerry Goulette, PA-C, MPH, Community Health Centers of Burlington
  • kell arbor, Pride Center of Vermont
  • Rebecca Hewson-Steller, BA, RN, CN, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
  • Suzanne Kelley, MSW, Vermont Department of Health

12:25 PM | Buffet Lunch & Impact Award Presentations | Sharon Mallory, MPH, Comprehensive Cancer Control Director, VT Dept. of Health

1:15 PM | Navigating A Cancer Journey | Polly Macpherson, MS

1:55 PM | Closing Remarks | Justin Pentenrieder, You First Program Manager, VT Dept. of Health, VTAAC Co-Chair

2 PM | Summit Adjourns

Thank you to our Sponsors!

2024 Sunscreen Dispenser Program

Thank you for applying to this year’s Sunscreen Dispenser Program. Applications have now closed. Recipients will be notified early May.

2023 Sunscreen Dispenser Program

Vermont’s community sunscreen program, as part of the Skin Cancer Taskforce, which first launched in 2018 in 18 Vermont State Parks and 8 municipal locations continues to gain momentum with additional community park and recreation sites scheduled for free sunscreen dispenser stations, thanks to the collaborative efforts of VTAAC, Dartmouth Cancer Center, and IMPACT Melanoma, the nation’s leading non-profit dedicated to melanoma prevention and early detection. 

Of the 27 sites that applied for sunscreen dispenser installations, the 12 selected are as follows: 

• City of Barre’s Rotary Park – Municipal Pool
• City of Rutland Recreation and Parks – White Memorial Park & Pool
• Paran Recreations, Inc. – Lake Paran, North Bennington
• Retreat Farm, Ltd – Farmhouse Square entrance, Brattleboro
• Rutland Town Recreation – Northwood Pool
• Spectrum Youth and Family Services – St. Albans Drop-In Center
• St. Albans Recreation – Hard’ack Recreation Area
• Town of Brattleboro Recreation & Parks – Living Memorial Park
• Town of Bristol Recreation Department – Bristol Recreation Field
• Town of Castleton – Crystal Beach
• Town of St. Albans – St. Albans Bay Park
• Village Improvement Society, Inc. – Powers Park, Lyndonville 

The purpose of these free sunscreen stations is two-fold: to provide easy access to SPF 30 sunscreen as well as remind Vermont residents and visitors that sun protection is critical to their optimal health and sun safety is in their hands — quite literally. 

Vermont has the second highest incidence rate of melanoma in the U.S. Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or tanning beds is a major risk factor for developing melanoma.

Sunscreen Dispenser Program Survey Brief

To understand the implementation and effectiveness of the program, a survey was sent to all 12 sunscreen dispenser recipients. The sunscreen dispensers were well received and convenient. Modeling the application of the sunscreen by site staff, such as lifeguards, encouraged the use of the dispensers and sun safety behavior by community members.

The full survey results brief can be found here.

Social Media / PR Toolkit

Sun Safety for Kids

Click on images and right click to download.

Post these images as a carousel on social media with the caption: “Just a few serious sunburns can increase your child’s risk for #skincancer later in life, but there are steps you can take to protect them. Visit Vermont Department of Health for more information.” 

6 Tips for Sun Safety

Click on images and right click to download.

Post these images as a carousel on social media with the caption: “Vermont has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the U.S. However, most skin cancers can be prevented. Follow these tips to be sun smart when playing and working outdoors. Visit Vermont Department of Health for more information.”

Sunscreen Dispensers from Selected Sites

For more information on sun safety and to find free sunscreen stations around the state, visit healthvermont.gov/summer-safety-tips. 

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to the VTAAC member survey in April!

We are excited to share with you a four-page brief, summarizing key findings from the 72 total responses from VTAAC members. These results can be used in a variety of ways, including to inform recruitment efforts, build upon efforts to engage cancer partners across Vermont, continue to create opportunities for members to engage with VTAAC that fit their availability and interest, and inform dissemination of the 2025 Vermont Cancer Plan.

MEMBER SURVEY FOUR-PAGE BRIEF

Below are a few highlights from the survey results:

• Nearly 50% of respondents identified as a caregiver or loved one of someone personally impacted by cancer.
• Newer members are as likely as members involved for more than 2 years to be engaged in a workgroup, taskforce, and/or project.
• Only 22% of respondents reported that they are part of one or more populations of focus identified in the 2025 Vermont Cancer Plan.
• About 66% of respondents have used the cancer plan in some way, and the most common barriers to use included lack of time and competing organizational priorities.
•  

Learn more about the survey findings by clicking on the image (or text) above. Please reach out to coordinator@vtaac.org with any questions!

IMPACT Melanoma

• Facts about Melanoma
• Dangers of Tanning video
• IMPACT Support Services flyer

UVM Cancer Center 

Sun Safety Public Education Activities: 

• May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month – Resources on UVM Cancer Center homepage
• Something New Under the Sun – UVM Article
• Vermont Public messaging throughout the month of May
• Sun Safety Social Media Reel with Dr. Bui, Dermatologist at UVM Medical Center  
• UVM Health Network HealthSource Article on skin cancer awareness with Santana Vandyke, MD, Dermatologist 
• Front Porch Forum messaging:
  • Did you know that Vermont has the second highest incident rate of melanoma in the U.S.? May is melanoma and skin cancer awareness month and the UVM Cancer Center is here to remind you that by limiting sun exposure you can reduce your skin cancer risk.
  • Prevention tips:
    • Cover up. Wear wide-brimmed hats, sun-protective clothing, and sunglasses.
    • Stay indoors between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
    • Wear sunscreen, with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher.
  • Protect yourself from UV harmful rays. 🎗️☀️

  • URL: https://www.med.uvm.edu/uvmcancercenter/community_outreach/public_health

Dartmouth Cancer Center

SunSafe in the Middle School Years: Program Materials

For more resources from Dartmouth Cancer Center, please email nccc.community.outreach@dartmouth.edu.

Public Education Resources

• Vermont Department of Health: Summer Safety Tips
• CDC: Skin Cancer Overview 
• DCMF Canada Youtube Video: Dear 16-Year-Old Me
• Melanoma Patient Voices: Jackie’s Story Youtube video
• Skin of color: How to prevent and detect skin cancer Youtube video
• Sun Safety Quiz | ACS

Outreach Programs and Resources

• Sun Protection Outreach Teaching by Students (SPOTS) is a community outreach program designed to teach students from preschool through high school about the importance of early detection and prevention of skin cancer. Medical students visit local schools to instruct students about sun safe habits, avoiding artificial tanning beds, and skin self-exams.
• Skin Smart Campus
• American Academy of Dermatology Association Shade Structure Grants awards grants of up to $8,000 to public schools and non-profit organizations for installing permanent shade structures for outdoor locations that are not protected from the sun, such as playgrounds, pools, or recreation spaces. 
• IMPACT Dermatology Interest Group Association (DIGA): The Dermatology Interest Group Association (DIGA) is a national student-run organization committed to providing volunteering, networking, and research opportunities to medical students interested in a career in dermatology.
• New England Dermatological Society is a not-for-profit educational organization whose members are physicians, dermatopathologists,  NP’s, PA’s and  scientists with a special interest in skin disease.
• 34th Annual Eastern Winter Dermatology Conference: Stay Tuned for 2024 information!

Taskforce Mission

The Skin Cancer Taskforce seeks to support and promote evidence-based collaborative strategies to improve skin cancer prevention and early detection among Vermonters to decrease the burden of melanoma and other skin cancers in Vermont.

Skin Cancer Taskforce Chair

Skin Cancer-Related Goals in the Vermont Cancer Plan: