Cancer mortality among Minnesota American Indians is 88% higher than in the United States as a whole, and cancer is often diagnosed at later stages leading to increased mortality. In response, Fond du Lac (FDL) Public Health Nursing implemented the American Cancer Society (ACS) Circle of Life Program in May 2004.

Circle of Life was developed by AI/AN women and ACS to encourage mammography screening. Trained community volunteers talked with five relatives or friends about mammograms. At FDL, a Community Health Representative (CHR) made education about all screenable cancers (breast, cervical, prostate, colon) part regular home visits and transportation resulting in the education of hundreds of people. In one year, 25 women received mammograms. Others were screened for colon, prostate or cervical cancer. In June 2006 FDL received a cancer control implementation grant from the CDC and hired a Cancer Program Outreach Worker (CPOW) who in January 2007 assumed responsibility for the Circle of Life Program (now Circle of Life Plus). During the first two months with Circle of Life Plus, this CPOW has reached nearly 100 people with education, and arranged for more than a dozen screenings. 

American Cancer Society staff, working with Fond du Lac Public Health, recognized the value of Circle of Life Plus. This enhanced program was offered to Public Health Departments of other Northern Minnesota tribes, and the Circle of Life training was modified to include information on all screenable cancers. In November 2006 FDL’s new CPOW and three Public Health staff from the Mille Lac Band of Ojibwa attended training in Circle of Life Plus. CEUs were awarded to program participants.

For more information, contact: Marjorie Johnson
Phone: (218) 529-7627 ext 23
Email:  Marjorie.Johnson@cancer.org

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