Background
In 2000, region-wide resources for effective cancer prevention and control were severely lacking. There was little community awareness, large cultural barriers, lack of diagnostic and treatment services, and almost no palliation for the mostly preventable but end-stage cancers being diagnosed at an alarming frequency.

Development of National Cancer Control Plans
After several years of advocacy by dedicated physicians and public health leaders, a region-wide cancer assessment was undertaken in 2002 with funds from the National Cancer Institute. To guide regional planning and identify priorities, a regional council – the Cancer Council of the Pacific Islands (CCPI) – was formed with two representatives from health services in each of the jurisdictions.   From 2004-2007, the CCPI helped secure Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding to engage partners in a community-driven planning process that resulted in National Comprehensive Cancer Control (CCC) plans at the jurisdictional and regional levels. 

Impact
As a result of these planning efforts, in 2007 each jurisdiction and the U.S. Affiliated Island jurisdictions (USAPI) region received CDC funding to implement their National CCC plans that have subsequently had a major impact on cancer control activities throughout the region. Partnerships developed through the planning process have allowed the region to leverage resources to support implementation of cancer plans.  In 2011, each jurisdiction now has a functional cancer registry, more community awareness and energy, collaborative prevention efforts with other non-communicable disease (NCD) programmes and coalitions (tobacco, diabetes, physical activity), local women mobilised as outreach workers, improving rates of cervical cancer screening, and developing palliative care programmes.  Each jurisdiction has also enacted policies moving them closer to compliance with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. 

At the regional level, the CCPI, as the advisory body for all regional efforts, successfully secured funding for the creation of the Pacific Regional Central Cancer Registry and the Pacific Center for Excellence in the Elimination of Disparities in Breast and Cervical Cancer. 

Source: Jeffrey D Glenn, Centers for Disease for Control and Prevention, National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program