Comprehensive cancer control program (CCCP)

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Key Terms

AB 1726 (Data Collection) - California law (2015–2016) requiring disaggregated data for Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander subgroups, serving as a model for granular reporting in the California Cancer Registry.
Advance care planning - Advance care planning involves discussing and preparing for future decisions about your medical care if you become seriously ill or unable to communicate your wishes.
Affirming Care - A supportive approach to healthcare that recognizes, validates, and supports an individual's stated or expressed gender identity, particularly when it differs from the sex assigned at birth.
Alcohol outlet density - The amount of places (like bars, restaurants, or liquor stores) legally selling alcohol within a certain area or among a certain number of people.
Balance billing - The practice of billing a patient for the difference between what their insurance covers and the total charge for a service, often occurring when receiving care from an out-of-network provider.

Best practices - Treatment that is accepted by medical experts as a proper treatment for a certain type of disease and that is widely used by health care professionals. Also called standard medical care, standard of care, and standard therapy.
Bioremediation - the use of microbes to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater. Microbes are very small organisms, such as bacteria, that live naturally in the environment. Bioremediation stimulates the growth of certain microbes that use contaminants as a source of food and energy. Contaminants treated using bioremediation include oil and other petroleum products, solvents and pesticides.
Biosolids - When sewage from households and businesses (and sometimes wastewater from industrial dischargers) is sent to a wastewater treatment plant, the liquids are separated from the solids, producing a semi-solid, nutrient-rich product known as biosolids.
Blue spaces - Outdoor environments featuring water, like oceans, rivers, and lakes.
BMI-for-age percentile - Body mass index. A measure that relates body weight to height. BMI is sometimes used to measure total body fat and whether a person is a healthy weight. Excess body fat is linked to an increased risk of some diseases including heart disease and some cancers. Also called body mass index.
Body Mass Index (BMI) - BMI is a simple, widely used anthropometric measure that estimates body fatness based on a person's weight relative to their height. It is primarily used as a screening tool to identify individuals at risk of being medically undesirably underweight or overweight from their body composition classification.
Built environment - The built environment touches all aspects of our lives, encompassing the buildings we live in, the distribution systems that provide us with water and electricity, and the roads, bridges, and transportation systems we use to get from place to place.
Cancer care coordination - Cancer care coordination involves organizing and sharing information among all participants involved in a patient's care to ensure safer and more effective treatment.
Cancer genetic risk assessment - A cancer genetic risk assessment is a process used to evaluate an individual's likelihood of developing cancer based on their personal and family history, as well as potential genetic factors. It involves assessing various factors that can increase or decrease a person's risk of developing cancer.
Cancer incidence - A cancer incidence rate is the number of new cancers of a specific site/type occurring in a specified population during a year.
Cancer mortality - The number of deaths attributed to cancer within a defined population and timeframe.
Cancer surveillance - Cancer surveillance is the ongoing, timely, and systematic collection and analysis of information on new cancer cases, extent of disease, screening tests, treatment, survival, and cancer deaths. What that really means is that scientists and health officials are keeping an eye on cancer and tracking it for public health reasons.
Cancer survivorship - The state of being a cancer survivor, that is, having been diagnosed with cancer.
Carbon footprint - The total amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere each year by a person, family, building, organization, or company. A persons carbon footprint includes greenhouse gas emissions from fuel that an individual burns directly, such as by heating a home or riding in a car. It also includes greenhouse gases that come from producing the goods or services that the individual uses, including emissions from power plants that make electricity, factories that make products, and landfills where trash gets sent.
Care coordination - Deliberately organizing patient care activities and sharing information among all of the participants concerned with a patient's care to achieve safer and more effective care. This means that the patient's needs and preferences are known ahead of time and communicated at the right time to the right people, and that this information is used to provide safe, appropriate, and effective care to the patient.
Care gaps - Gaps are discontinuities in care. They may appear as losses of information or momentum or interruptions in delivery of care.
Census tract - Small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county or statistically equivalent entity that can be updated by local participants prior to each decennial census as part of the Census Bureau's Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP).
Cessation - To quit smoking. Smoking cessation lowers the risk of cancer and other serious health problems. Counseling, behavior therapy, medicines, and nicotine-containing products, such as nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers, and nasal sprays, may be used to help a person quit smoking.
Children's Oncology Group (COG) - A large group of researchers, hospitals, and cancer centers that get support from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to study childhood cancers. The main goal of the Children's Oncology Group is to conduct clinical trials that test new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer in children and adolescents. These clinical trials also include supportive care and childhood cancer survivorship studies. The Children's Oncology Group has hospitals and cancer centers in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. It is part of the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN). Also called COG.
Cisgender - An adjective that indicates that a person's gender identity is the same as the gender associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.
Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) - It is a computer-based application designed to assist healthcare professionals in making informed clinical decisions by providing evidence-based recommendations, alerts, and insights.
Clinical trials - Research studies that use human volunteers to test new drugs or other treatments and compare current standard treatments with others that may be better. They may also test new ways to diagnose or prevent a disease.
Clinical trials navigators - Specialized professionals who assist patients in understanding and accessing clinical trials and address barriers such as eligibility, transportation, and insurance coverage.
Commercial Tobacco - Products manufactured, marketed, distributed, and sold by the tobacco industry and its subsidiaries for recreational and habitual use.
Community Health Workers (CHWs) - Frontline public health professionals who are trusted members of the communities they serve. CHWs provide culturally relevant health education, outreach, and support to help individuals navigate the health system, access care, and engage in preventive practices, including cancer screenings.
Community-Based Organization (CBO) - Organizations that operate in specific communities to address local needs and improve residents' well-being.
Community-clinical linkages - Partnerships between healthcare providers and community organizations to improve patient access to support services and resources.
Competitive foods - Competitive foods are all food and beverages sold to students on the school campus during the school day, outside of the federally reimbursable school meal programs (like the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program). These items "compete" with school meals for students' attention and dollars—hence the term competitive.
Covered California / Marketplace insurance - California's state-run health insurance exchange where individuals and families can compare, purchase, and receive financial assistance for affordable health coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) - Services that are respectful of and responsive to the cultural and language needs of patients, improving access, understanding, and trust in care delivery.
culturally competent - The ability to understand, interact, and work well with people of different cultures. In medicine, one goal of cultural competency is to help make sure that the quality of health care is equal among different cultural groups.
Cumulative exposure - The total burden of environmental and occupational exposures over a lifetime that may influence cancer risk.
Data completeness - The proportion of cancer cases with fully reported demographic, clinical, and outcome data in a registry, essential for identifying disparities and ensuring equitable research and clinical outcomes.
Data dictionary - A structured document defining data elements, variables, and coding guidelines to ensure standardized and accurate data collection.
Data disaggregation - The process of breaking down collected data by subgroups (e.g., race, ethnicity, disability status, gender identity) to identify disparities and target interventions.
Data integration - Combining data from multiple sources, such as healthcare providers, registries, and community health programs, creates a more comprehensive view of patient care and disparities.
Data linkage - Merging datasets (e.g., registries, surveys, biobanks) to fill gaps in reporting and enhance case completeness in the California Cancer Registry (CCR), such as linking CCR with the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) or National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).
Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs) - Allows patients to participate in clinical trials outside of traditional hospital or research center settings, using community-based locations or remote technologies.
Developmental Progress Milestones - Are interim benchmarks established to guide the identification, collection, and development of baseline data for priorities that currently lack sufficient data measures.
Electronic smoking device - An electronic device that can be used to deliver nicotine or other substances to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, an electronic cigarette, hookah pen, Mods, Vapes or any cartridge or other component of the device or related product.
Embedded navigator - A health care professional, often a nurse or social worker, who is integrated within a healthcare team or system to guide patients through their healthcare journey and overcome potential barriers to care.
Endocrine disrupting chemicals - Natural of human-made chemicals that may mimic, block, or interfere with the body's hormones.
Environmental carcinogen - Substances in the environment that can cause cancer, which may be naturally occurring or human-made.
Evidence-based interventions - Programs and strategies that have been scientifically tested and proven effective in improving outcomes for cancer survivors and caregivers.
Excessive alcohol use - Excessive drinking includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, underage drinking, and drinking during pregnancy.
Exercise oncology - A service designed specifically for cancer patients and survivors, led by trained professionals who understand the unique needs and limitations of individuals recovering from cancer treatment.
Exposure reduction strategies - Plans/guidelines to minimize contact with harmful substances and/or conditions.
Farm to institution agreements - Where institutions (like schools, hospitals, etc.) purchase food directly from local farms, fostering local economies and promoting healthy, fresh food access.
Federally-Qualified Health Care Center (FQHC) - A community-based health care provider that receives federal funding to offer comprehensive medical services, particularly to underserved populations, regardless of their ability to pay.
Financial navigation - Refers to assistance provided to cancer patients and their families to help reduce financial toxicity and manage the costs of treatment, including screening for financial distress, understanding, and optimizing insurance coverage, and accessing financial assistance.
Food insecurity - Lacking reliable access to sufficient, nutritious, affordable food to meet dietary needs.
Food neophobia - Food neophobia is the avoidance or hesitancy to try new or unfamiliar foods, which can limit dietary diversity and affect nutritional intake. It is considered evolutionarily adaptive—a mechanism to minimize the harm from ingesting potentially harmful substances.
Food policy council - A group of stakeholders from various sectors that works to address food systems issues and needs at the local, state, regional, or tribal nations levels, often through policy recommendations.
Food sovereignty - Food sovereignty is food sovereignty is the right of peoples, communities, and countries to define their own food systems—including the production, distribution, and consumption of food—in ways that are ecologically, socially, economically, and culturally appropriate to their unique contexts.
Fossil fuels - Non-renewable energy sources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals over millions of years.
Gender Identity - Gender identity is how you feel inside and how you express your gender through clothing, behavior, and personal appearance. It's a feeling that begins very early in life.
Genetic cancer risk - The contribution our genes play in the chance that we will develop cancer.
Genetic counseling - A communication process that seeks to assist affected or at-risk individuals and families in understanding the natural history, disease risks, and mode of transmission of a genetic disorder; to facilitate informed consent for genetic testing when appropriate; to discuss options for risk management and family planning; and to provide for or refer individuals for psychosocial support as needed.
Genetic counselor - A health care professional who has training in genetics and counseling who works alongside doctors, nurses, or other members of the healthcare team. Genetic counselors assess medical history and family history to determine if someone is at risk for a genetic or hereditary condition and discuss the implications of available genetic testing options.
Genetic testing - Test that analyzes a person's genetic material (i.e., chromosomes or genes) in order to identify changes which could lead to genetic disease or predisposition to disease.
Genomics - The study of the complete set of DNA (including all of its genes) in a person or other organism. Almost every cell in a person's body contains a complete copy of the genome. The genome contains all the information needed for a person to develop and grow. Studying the genome may help researchers understand how genes interact with each other and with the environment and how certain diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, form. This may lead to new ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease.
Geospatial analysis - The use of geographic data to identify cancer clusters, environmental exposures, and healthcare access issues.
Geospatial Information Science (GIS) - A field that focuses on collecting, analyzing, and visualizing spatial and geographic data to support decision-making in various sectors, including public health, urban planning, and environmental management.
Glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists - Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are a class of medications that mimic the action of the natural hormone GLP-1, a key regulator of blood sugar. and appetite. These drugs are primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Green spaces - Areas of land, both in urban and rural settings, that are covered with grass, trees, shrubs, or other vegetation. They can include parks, gardens, greenways, and other areas designed to promote nature and recreation. These spaces offer numerous benefits, including improved physical and mental health, reduced air and water pollution, and enhanced community well-being.
Health disparities - Differences in health outcomes and access to healthcare experienced by certain populations due to systemic barriers.
Health equity - Health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health.
Health Information System (HIS) - Software that collects, stores, manages and/or transmits health-related data
Health Information System (HIS) Vendors - Companies that develop and provide Health Information Systems (HIS), such as electronic health records (EHRs), picture archiving & community systems (PACS), and hospital management systems, to support healthcare operations, data management, and patient care.
Healthcare delivery organization - An entity responsible for providing healthcare services, such as hospitals, physician groups, or integrated health systems, ensuring patient care through various medical and administrative processes.
Healthcare payer organization - An entity, such as a health insurance company, employer, or government program, that finances and reimburses the cost of healthcare services for individuals.
Healthcare provider organization - A healthcare entity, such as a hospital, clinic, or physician group, that delivers medical services and patient care through healthcare professionals and facilities.
Hereditary cancer syndromes - Inherited genetic conditions that increase an individual's risk of certain types of cancer, requiring specialized screening and risk management.
Huff and puff exercise - "Huff and puff" exercise as moderate to vigorous physical activity that elevates breathing and heart rate, often to the point where a person becomes noticeably out of breath ("huffing and puffing"). It is not a clinical term but a widely used expression—especially in public health and educational settings—to communicate the intensity of physical activity in a simple and relatable way, particularly for children and families.
Interoperability - The ability of different healthcare systems, applications, and devices to exchange, interpret, and use health information seamlessly, improving care coordination and patient outcomes.
Interpreter services - Professional services that enable verbal communication between patients and providers who do not speak the same language. These services are a core component of language access and play a direct role in reducing communication challenges reported by LEP adults.
Language access program - Organized initiatives within healthcare systems to ensure that individuals with LEP can receive services in their preferred language. These programs may include policies, staff training, translation services, and evaluation measures to promote equitable access to care.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) - A term encompassing diverse sexual orientations and gender identities that may impact health risks and disparities.
Limited English Proficiency (LEP) - Refers to individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and have difficulty speaking, reading, writing, or understanding English.
Managed care plan - A type of health insurance plan that contracts with healthcare providers and facilities to deliver cost-effective, coordinated care, often through networks such as HMOs or PPOs.
Medi-Cal threshold languages - Languages identified by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) as being spoken by a significant number of Medi-Cal beneficiaries, requiring health plans to provide translated materials and interpreter services for effective communication.
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) - A federal survey collecting healthcare costs and access data, identifying financial barriers to cancer care for underrepresented groups.
Microplastics - Tiny plastic particles, less than five millimeters in size, that enter the environment from various sources, including the breakdown of larger plastic items and the intentional use of small plastic pieces in products like microbeads, which have the potential to contaminate food, water, and air.
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) - A CDC survey assessing health status, insurance coverage, and social determinants of health (SDOH), providing context for survival disparities in CCR data.
Non-clinical support services - Provides emotional, financial, and logistical support to cancer patients and caregivers, such as counseling, transportation assistance, and financial navigation.
Nutrition counseling - Personalized guidance from dietitians or nutrition experts to help cancer survivors optimize their diet for recovery, weight management, and long-term health.
Obesity - Researchers typically describe obesity as a complex, multifactorial chronic disease characterized by excessive accumulation of body fat that may impair health. Obesity increases risk of developing various health problems, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and fatty liver disease. In adults, obesity is defined as body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m² AND a waist circumference < 40 inches (males) and < 35 inches (females)
Obesity screening - A health assessment to determine if a cancer survivor is at risk for obesity-related complications and to provide referrals for weight management interventions.

Palliative care - Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients (adults and children) and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness. It prevents and relieves suffering through the early identification, correct assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, whether physical, psychosocial, or spiritual.
Patient navigation - A person who helps guide a patient through the health care system. This includes help going through the screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of a medical condition, such as cancer. A patient navigator helps patients communicate with their health care providers, so they get the information they need to make decisions about their health care.
Patient-Centered Medical Home - A healthcare model that provides coordinated, patient-focused primary care, emphasizing accessibility, continuity, and comprehensive services to improve outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Policy, systems, and environment - Policy, Systems, and Environment (PSE) changes are coordinated strategies that modify policies, organizational systems, and physical or social environments to support healthier behaviors and improve population health.
Population-level exposure data - Data collected to understand how a large group of people are exposed to environmental chemicals or other stressors, helping to inform public health actions and risk assessments.
Post-treatment care - Ongoing health care that follows the completion of active cancer treatment, which may include monitoring for recurrence, managing late effects, and supporting health and wellness.
Principal illness navigation - A CMS initiative supporting patient navigation services for individuals with serious illnesses like cancer to improve access and coordination of care.
Priority population groups - According to the 2025-2026 TEROC master plan, priority populations include but are not limited to the following: African American or Black; Asian American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; American Indian or Alaskan Native; Hispanic or Latino; LGBTQIA+; rural residents; low-income adults; school-aged youth; military personnel and veterans; adults and youth with poor mental health and pregnant women (including mothers of all ages).
Probabilistic matching - An algorithmic method to link records without exact identifiers (e.g., using birthdate, ZIP code) to reduce missing data for hard-to-reach populations.
Psychosocial support - Interventions that address psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being, often including counseling, support groups, and community-based programming.
Quality improvement metrics - Health system-level measurements and processes used to evaluate and improve the effectiveness and consistency of survivorship care practices.
Radon - A naturally occurring odorless, colorless, and tasteless radioactive gas that seeps into homes from the ground.
Renewable energy - Energy derived from natural resources that are replenished on a human timescale (like sun, wind, and water).
Risk reduction messaging - Public health campaigns and educational efforts aimed at informing cancer survivors about behaviors and lifestyle changes that can reduce their risk of recurrence or secondary cancers.
SB 106 (Latino and Indigenous Disparities Reduction Act) - California legislation (2023-2024) targeting health inequities in Latino and Indigenous communities by mandating improved data collection and reporting.
SB 793 - California's statewide flavored tobacco sales restriction law.
Screen time - Screen time is the amount of time an individual spends using devices with screens, such as televisions, computers, smartphones, tablets, and video game consoles.
Secondary cancers - New primary cancers that develop in cancer survivors, unrelated to the original diagnosis but possibly influenced by prior treatment or genetic risk.
Secondhand smoke (SHS) - A mixture of gases and chemicals inhaled involuntarily from tobacco being smoked by others.
Sex Assigned at Birth - A medical designation at birth, which is often based on the appearance of external genitalia or chromosomes. This is likely the Sex/Gender that appeared on an original birth certificate.
Sexual Orientation - One's attraction or non-attraction to other people. An individual's orientation can be fluid and may change over time.
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) - The conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.
Social Drivers of Health (SDOH) - The conditions in which people live, work, and access healthcare that affect their health outcomes, including factors like transportation, food security, and economic stability.
Social support networks - Groups and resources that provide emotional and practical support to cancer survivors, including support groups, mentorship programs, and peer networks.
Standards-based exchange - Use of nationally-recognized formats to enable secure, accurate, and interoperable sharing of patient health data across different healthcare providers and technologies.
Standing orders - Pre-approved medical orders that allow healthcare providers, such as nurses or pharmacists, to administer treatments, vaccines, or tests without direct physician approval for each patient interaction
Structural discrimination - also known as systemic or institutional discrimination, refers to discriminatory practices embedded within the policies, procedures, and norms of institutions and societies.
Sun safety - involves taking precautions to protect your skin and eyes from the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation, mainly from the sun's rays.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - National program that provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so that they can afford nutritious food.
Support groups - Peer-led or professionally facilitated meetings where cancer survivors and caregivers share experiences, provide emotional support, and exchange resources.
Supportive care - Care given to improve the quality of life of people who have an illness or disease by preventing or treating, as early as possible, the symptoms of the disease and the side effects caused by treatment of the disease. Supportive care includes physical, psychological, social, and spiritual support for patients and their families. There are many types of supportive care.
Surveillance - In medicine, closely watching a patient's condition but not treating it unless there are changes in test results. Surveillance is also used to find early signs that a disease has come back. It may also be used for a person who has an increased risk of a disease, such as cancer. During surveillance, certain exams and tests are done on a regular schedule.
Survivorship - Health and well-being of a person with cancer from the time of diagnosis until the end of life. This includes the physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial effects of cancer that begin at diagnosis and continue through treatment and beyond. The survivorship experience also includes issues related to follow-up care (including regular health and wellness checkups), late effects of treatment, cancer recurrence, second cancers, and quality of life.
Survivorship care plan - A personalized document that outlines a cancer survivor's treatment history, potential late effects, and recommended follow-up care.
Task-shifting - The process of redistributing healthcare tasks from highly specialized clinicians to trained professionals or paraprofessionals to improve efficiency and access to care, especially when resources are limited.
Telehealth - The use of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, health administration, and public health.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - The psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.
The California Biobank Program (CBP) - A collection of maternal blood specimens from the California Prenatal Screening Program and dried blood spot card specimens from the California Newborn Screening Program.
Thirdhand smoke (THS) - Thirdhand smoke occurs when tobacco smoke leaves residual nicotine and other chemicals on indoor surfaces, skin, fur, and furniture, even after the air has cleared.
Tobacco Product Waste (TPW) - The trash and pollution associated with discarded and used tobacco products, whether in a solid, semi-solid, liquid, or gaseous form.
Toxicant - A poison that is made by humans or that is put into the environment by human activities. Many pesticides are toxicants.
Traditional/ceremonial tobacco - Traditional tobacco is tobacco and/or other plant mixtures grown or harvested and used by American Indians and Alaska Natives for ceremonial or medicinal purposes.
Transgender - An adjective that indicates that a person's gender identity is different from the gender associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. It is also utilized as an umbrella term that can include a wide range of gender identities and expressions that differ from societal expectations based on assigned sex at birth.
Transition of care - The process of shifting responsibility for care from a cancer treatment team to primary care or survivorship services, ensuring continuity and coordination of care post-treatment.
Ultra-processed food - Ultra-processed foods are industrially manufactured, shelf-stable products that are designed to be convenient and hyper-palatable. Their excessive consumption has been consistently associated with adverse health outcomes in epidemiological and clinical research.
Underinsured - The state in which people with medical coverage are still exposed to financial risk. We argue that the adequacy of health insurance coverage should also be assessed in terms of the adequacy of specific benefits coverage and access to care.
Underserved populations - Groups that have limited or no access to resources or that are otherwise disenfranchised. These groups may include people who are socioeconomically disadvantaged; people with limited English proficiency; geographically isolated or educationally disenfranchised people; people of color as well as those of ethnic and national origin minorities; women and children; individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs; and seniors.
Weight management interventions - Evidence-based programs, including diet, exercise, and medical support, aimed at helping cancer survivors achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Whole-person care - Whole person health involves looking at the whole person—not just separate organs or body systems—and considering multiple factors that promote either health or disease. It means helping and empowering individuals, families, communities, and populations to improve their health in multiple interconnected biological, behavioral, social, and environmental areas.