Our Cancer Coalition is teaming up with other regional coalitions and academic partners to survey communities across the Southern region of Georgia. The goal of a multi-region survey is to collect qualitative data to improve understanding of our population's access to prevention programs, screening, education, and related services. This new data will be correlated with existing data (incidence, mortality, morbidity, tumor stage) to improve understanding of the current state of cancer in South Georgia and statewide.

Additionally, the data will inform policy makers, program planners and health professionals in addressing disparities in the continuum of cancer care from prevention through treatment. Our collaborators include: Central Georgia Cancer Coalition; Southeast Georgia Cancer Alliance; Armstrong Atlantic State University; Georgia Southern University; and Mercer University. We also have obtained input from local partners including health district leadership, cancer centers staff and others who are interested in data on health behaviors and access to care. We expect to complete the first phase of this project in May, 2007 and hope to expand survey collection in the future.