Awareness may reduce minority cancer rates
Larry Lucas/Special to the NNPA from GIN
Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: Health
A cancer diagnosis can be a devastating blow for patients and their loved ones. I should know: I am a 10-year survivor of prostate cancer. And when my doctor told me I was facing the dreaded "c" word, no one was more surprised than me, my family and friends.
That's because many cancers, including prostate cancer, don't present noticeable symptoms until the disease has spread or become more advanced. During April, we celebrate the annual National Minority Cancer Awareness Week. There's no better time to be reminded of the importance of regular health check-ups and cancer screenings.
For me, it was an annual physical that saved my life. I had no symptoms and was enjoying a variety of sporting activities with no problem. Through the prostate screening and blood tests that are a part of my regular physicals, I was fortunate enough to catch the cancer in its early stages, before it had spread to my lymph nodes or other vital organs.
Not everyone is so lucky. In fact, overall, African-Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial and ethnic group in the U.S. for most cancers, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). One reason for this disparity is that people in our community are more likely to be diagnosed later, with more advanced cancer, which is harder to treat.
Consider breast cancer. The ACS finds that though African American women are less likely to get breast cancer, they are 28 percent more likely to die from it than white women.
Regular mammograms and monthly self-checks are critical to lowering this statistic. Improved access to care is also important: A study from Columbia University Medical Center found that African American women with early stage breast cancer are less likely to finish chemotherapy treatment.
We all have a personal role to play in preventing cancer.
First and foremost, if you're a smoker, stop! Among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the African American community is lung cancer, according to the ACS. This is largely preventable - in fact, smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That's because many cancers, including prostate cancer, don't present noticeable symptoms until the disease has spread or become more advanced. During April, we celebrate the annual National Minority Cancer Awareness Week. There's no better time to be reminded of the importance of regular health check-ups and cancer screenings.
For me, it was an annual physical that saved my life. I had no symptoms and was enjoying a variety of sporting activities with no problem. Through the prostate screening and blood tests that are a part of my regular physicals, I was fortunate enough to catch the cancer in its early stages, before it had spread to my lymph nodes or other vital organs.
Not everyone is so lucky. In fact, overall, African-Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial and ethnic group in the U.S. for most cancers, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). One reason for this disparity is that people in our community are more likely to be diagnosed later, with more advanced cancer, which is harder to treat.
Consider breast cancer. The ACS finds that though African American women are less likely to get breast cancer, they are 28 percent more likely to die from it than white women.
Regular mammograms and monthly self-checks are critical to lowering this statistic. Improved access to care is also important: A study from Columbia University Medical Center found that African American women with early stage breast cancer are less likely to finish chemotherapy treatment.
We all have a personal role to play in preventing cancer.
First and foremost, if you're a smoker, stop! Among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the African American community is lung cancer, according to the ACS. This is largely preventable - in fact, smoking is the most preventable cause of premature death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Be the first to comment on this story