American Cancer Society Addresses Access to Cancer Care during National Minority Cancer Awareness Week

April 15-21, 2007

    ATLANTA, April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation observes National
 Minority Cancer Awareness Week (April 15-21, 2007), the American Cancer
 Society is raising awareness about the critical need for better access to
 quality cancer information, prevention, screening and treatment within the
 minority community. As part of this effort, the Society will mark the
 week-long initiative with a cancer disparities research conference
 featuring the Rev. Jesse Jackson, president and founder, RainbowPUSH
 Coalition, as keynote speaker. The focus of the conference, to be held in
 New Orleans April 18-20, is to lay the groundwork for progress in reducing
 and eliminating disparities in access to health care faced by minorities in
 the United States. For more information on the conference, visit
 www.cancer.org/cancerdisparities.
     "Research continues to show that ethnic minorities, as well as other
 medically underserved groups, have higher rates of cancer, are less likely
 to be diagnosed early or receive optimal treatment, and have lower survival
 rates," said Durado Brooks, MD, MPH, director of prostate and colorectal
 cancer for the American Cancer Society. "Unfortunately, for a variety of
 reasons - including access to quality health care - these population groups
 have not benefited equally from advances in cancer prevention, early
 detection and treatment."
     Lack of adequate health insurance, language and cultural barriers,
 racial bias and stereotyping are just a few of the many hurdles ethnic
 minorities face. For example, African Americans are more likely to develop
 and die from cancer than any other racial or ethnic population, and cancer
 has been the number one killer of Asian-American women since 1980.
     In additional efforts to foster and grow relationships with minority
 and medically underserved communities, the American Cancer Society already
 offers a host of programs and services such as:
     -- Information - Through the Society's toll-free National Cancer
        Information Center (1.800.ACS.2345), callers who speak English,
        Spanish and other languages can obtain information about cancer
        prevention, early detection and treatment, and can be linked with
        community resources. The Society's Web site (www.cancer.org) contains
        Spanish content and Asian language materials.
     -- Let's Talk About It(R) - Educates African American men about prostate
        health.
     -- Asian Tell A Friend(R) - Tell A Friend breast cancer program with a
        tailored component for Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Chinese
        women.
     -- Aconseje a su Amiga(R) - Encourages Hispanic/Latina women to get a
        mammogram and a Pap test.
     -- Circle of Life(SM) - Breast health program for American Indian women
     -- Look Good...Feel Better(R) - Includes cosmetic offerings for dark-
        skinned women and is available in Spanish (Luzca Bien ... Sientase
        Mejor).
     -- Body & Soul - Designed as a nutritional program for African American
        churches in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute.
     -- Relevo por La Vida - Works to place Relay For Life events in
        Hispanic/Latino markets.
     -- Hope Lodge(R) - Provides free, temporary housing for cancer patients
        who are undergoing treatment and their families.
     In further support of the Society's goal to help reduce disparities,
 the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network(SM) (ACS CAN), the
 Society's sister advocacy organization, is working with Congress to enact
 legislation that will help increase access to quality cancer screenings and
 treatments for ethnic minorities and the medically underserved. Increasing
 funding for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
 and establishing a federal colorectal cancer prevention, early detection
 and treatment program are high priorities for ACS CAN. Other efforts
 include working with Congress to secure funding for the National Center on
 Minority Health and Health Disparities, and to provide resources needed to
 implement the Patient Navigator, Outreach and Chronic Disease Program
 passed in 2005, which will also improve access to quality care and health
 outcomes.
     The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a
 major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing
 cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913
 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional
 Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of
 volunteers across the United States. For more information, call
 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
     FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
     Nicole Dye-Anderson
     American Cancer Society
     phone: (215) 525-1409
     email: ndyeanderson@ad-itive.com
 
 

SOURCE American Cancer Society