Info

The Northern California Cancer Center (NCCC) is dedicated to preventing cancer through population-based research and community education. An independent organization, NCCC is an established, nationally recognized leader in understanding who gets cancer and why, and how to improve the quality of life for individuals living with cancer. The NCCC is committed to:Having a responsive and entrepreneurial approach to the complex problems of understanding cancer Forming research partnerships with a variety of programs to provide additional opportunities for unique and innovative research Forming educational partnerships with a variety of programs to extend the reach and expertise of NCCC's education programs Maintaining a highly collegial environment Serving diverse populationsNCCC works with scientists, educators, patients, clinicians, community leaders, and other individuals from many organizations and community groups. We are often called a "cancer center without walls." We've been working successfully with hundreds of agencies and individuals since 1974. This collaborative approach enables us to "play to the strengths" of the organizations we work with, and allows us to focus specialized expertise from numerous sources on a variety problems. We don't have to have all the skills under one roof; what we need is to know where they are and how to bring them together. Our Research Programs involve looking at who gets cancer and why, what causes cancer, what are risk factors for different cancers, how to detect cancer at an early stage when it is most curable, and how to help people adapt healthy lifestyles. Some of the areas we are studying are family genetics, physical activity, the environment, support groups, nutrition, vitamins, and mammography. We also study specific kinds of cancers such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, Hodgkin's disease and endometrial cancer, to name a few. NCCC works on projects that one institution would have a hard time doing by itself, but together we can make tremendous strides in tackling a problem. This approach means we don't have to build new laboratories, or new clinics, or ask patients to change doctors. Our Education and Information Programs are organized to help individuals understand what cancer is, what treatment options are available, and how to work with their health care providers when a question about cancer arises. These two Programs are practical and help make research findings easier to understand.