It takes a team effort to fight cancer.

That's why Iowa's efforts to reduce cancer deaths and new diagnoses of cancer are getting a boost from the Iowa Consortium for Comprehensive Cancer Control.

The consortium aims to reduce the burden of cancer in Iowa through prevention, early detection, effective treatment, and ensuring quality of life.

The consortium pulls together some 100 health and other professionals representing 50 agencies throughout the Hawkeye State. These include the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at UI and the UI College of Public Health. Iowa's registry staff includes 50 members who help collect cancer data from many facilities that will be provided to the National Cancer Institute.

Consortium member Charles Lynch, M.D., Ph.D., said cancer prevention and control depend on more than researchers and doctors.

"Cancer control requires the cooperation and activism of everyone," said Lynch, a University of Iowa professor of epidemiology and medical director of the State Health Registry of Iowa

Prevention is an essential--and achievable--way to significantly reduce a person's risk of cancer, he said.

"Thousands of cancer cases are related to improper diet and inactivity, as well as alcohol and tobacco use," Lynch said. "We all need to think about interventions for our lifestyle behaviors--and intervene."