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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Cancer Control Efforts in Florida

Contact the Florida Cancer Program

Florida takes a comprehensive approach in implementing cancer control efforts to reduce the disparities, morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. The efforts are guided by:

  1. The 2020-25 Florida Cancer Plan, which includes 21 goals within eight sections addressing collaboration; data; prevention and risk reduction; screening and early detection; diagnosis and treatment; quality of life; survivorship and end of life care; childhood cancers; and research and technology development.
  2. The Biomedical Research Advisory Council’s Strategic Research and Goals 2014 focuses on health impact of research through the James and Ester King Biomedical Research, Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research and the William G. “Bill” Bankhead, Jr. and David Coley Cancer Research Programs.
  3. The leadership of the state cancer councils of the Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council, and the Biomedical Research Advisory Council.
  4. The Florida Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, which is funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and located at the Florida Department of Health, provides coordination support among public and private partners in the state.
  5. Six Regional Cancer Control Collaborative strategic plans developed and implemented by cancer stakeholders to address Florida Cancer Plan goals on the local level.                                                       
State Cancer Councils
The National and Florida Comprehensive Cancer Control Program

Florida Cancer Plan

 The  Florida Cancer Plan was created by the Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council (CCRAB) to provide an overview of the cancer burden in Florida, health disparities by population, specific behavioral and preventive measures that may reduce one’s risk of cancer, and early detection techniques by specific cancer sites or classifications. The Florida Cancer Plan focuses on 21 goals.  For a detailed list also available in downloadable format click the link below:

2020-2025 Florida Cancer Plan Goals at a Glance 

State Cancer Councils

Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

The Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council (CCRAB) was established by the Legislature in 1979 to advise the Legislature, Governor, and State Surgeon General on how to reduce the cancer burden in Florida (Florida Statute 1004.435). The Council monitors cancer trends and disparities.  It also evaluates and promotes effective interventions to help in cancer prevention, screening and treatment. The Council is comprised of fifteen members: Governor appoints one member, President of the Senate appoints two members, Speaker of the House of Representatives appoints two members, the State Surgeon General or designee, and members from nine specified organizations.  The Council works collaboratively with Florida’s Biomedical Research Advisory Council (BRAC) to formulate and review a statewide research plan, in addition to developing and reviewing a statewide treatment plan. 

Visit the CCRAB website for more information.

Regional Cancer Control Collaboratives

Cancer collaboratives are regional groups of cancer stakeholders who meet on a routine calendar basis and implement cancer control efforts to address the priority strategies of the cancer plan. Each of the Regional Cancer Control Collaboratives coordinates cancer control efforts among public and private partners, in accordance with their specific strategic plan. In addition to a chairperson leading the collaborative efforts, each regional cancer control collaborative has a coordinator to provide management and technical assistance. For information about what the regional collaborative in your area is doing, visit their websites listed below.

Northwest Florida Cancer Control Collaborative

North Central Florida Cancer Control Collaborative

East Central Florida Cancer Control Collaborative

Southwest Florida Cancer Control Collaborative

   *Northeast Florida Area Health Education Centers (AHEC)        Coming soon - website is currently under construction.

To contact your regional cancer collaborative coordinator and become a member, see the Cancer Collaborative Map or the Cancer Networking Opportunities in Florida.

The South East American Indian Work Group was formed in 2011 and aims to build capacity and educate non-Federally recognized tribes, clans and bands on cancer prevention.  

The Florida Biomedical Research Advisory Council (BRAC) is an 11-member Biomedical Research Advisory Council (BRAC) that advises the State Surgeon General on the direction and scope of the James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program, Live Like Bella Pediatric Cancer Research and the Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program. Four of the BRAC members are appointed by the Governor. The BRAC is charged with developing the strategic objectives and priorities of the programs and with recommending which research proposals should be funded, based on the scientific merit of the proposals, as determined by open competitive grant application process. Visit the BRAC website for more information.

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The National and Florida Comprehensive Cancer Control Program

In 2001, the Florida Comprehensive Cancer Control (CCC) Program, located at the Florida Department of Health, was created through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The main objective of the cooperative agreement is to reduce the cancer burden through a collaborative effort with public and private partners. The CDC started the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP) to help states, tribes, and territories form coalitions (also called programs) to control and prevent cancer. These coalitions collect data to determine the greatest cancer-related needs in their area and develop and carry out CCC plans to meet those needs. To learn more about the NCCCP please visit https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/ncccp/.

The CCC Program employs cancer prevention, early detection and survivorship efforts through a strategic and collaborative approach to implementing evidence-based interventions statewide.  Activities include the promotion of health seeking and healthy lifestyle behaviors: HPV vaccination, improve physical activity and improved diet.  Efforts also target increased cancer screenings and extended support for cancer survivors.

The CCC Program is responsible for: providing technical assistance to the regional cancer control collaboratives; providing program and technical support to county health departments and various cancer groups; distributing cancer health educational materials, information, and data; providing administrative support to the Cancer Prevention and Control Program, oversight of contractual agreements and maintaining a program-specific website. The CCC Program also serves as a convener and facilitator of cancer stakeholders by providing networking opportunities, mobilizing cancer partners, promoting public and professional cancer educational campaigns, providing leadership and support on cancer issues statewide and coordinating with federal agencies.

Additionally, the Program staff collaborates with the CDC's various media projects promoting healthy lifestyles, cancer risk reduction and cancer survivorship. Other responsibilities include working toward developing guidelines and policies pertaining to county health department activities. The CCC Program networks with other departmental programs within the Division of Community Health Promotion and the Department of Health overall to coordinate activities for overlapping risk factors.

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