As a member of the African American community, I am deeply concerned about the unequal burden of cancer that is experienced by communities of color.

Earlier this month, the American Cancer Society released Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans 2007-2008, which notes that African Americans have the highest mortality rate of any racial or ethnic group for all cancers combined and for most major cancers, including breast, lung, colon and prostate cancers.

This is primarily because we are less likely to visit a doctor and be diagnosed at an early stage, when treatment is most effective. Instead, for a variety of reasons, African Americans often wait to go to the doctor or don’t get the appropriate screening and are diagnosed at a later stage of disease, when treatment is either not recommended or is less effective.

To help prevent these needless deaths, more information needs to be shared about the lifestyle factors that contribute to the development of cancer and about cancer screening guidelines.

Obesity and the use of tobacco are two lifestyle factors that have been linked to a significantly increased risk of many cancers. The proportion of overweight U.S. adults has increased markedly over the past decades.

Among African American adults, 76 percent are considered overweight and 45 percent are considered obese. Lung cancer kills more African Americans than any other cancer.

Being familiar with the recommended cancer screening guidelines is also important to detect cancer at its earliest stages. Women should begin annual mammograms to detect breast cancer at age 40. About 55 percent of African American women of screening age in California reported having a mammogram in the past year. These low screening rates may help explain the report’s findings that a significant drop in mortality rates among whites for breast cancer has not been equally experienced among African American women.

Both men and women age 50 and over should be screened for colon cancer, which is the second most common cancer in women and third in men.

Although it may be an uncomfortable subject, colon cancer is nearly preventable if caught early. All African American adults should be encouraged and prepared to ask their physicians about age-appropriate health care screenings that can literally save their lives.

Embracing change that challenges our familiar patterns of eating, exercise and doctors visits can be difficult, but the benefit is a longer life spent with family and friends and lower chances of hearing the words, “You have cancer.”

Four positive lifestyle changes can help:

1· Eat healthy to achieve and maintain an appropriate body weight.
2· Become and remain physically active.
3· Don’t smoke and avoid second-hand smoke.
4. Schedule regular doctor’s appointments and ask about cancer screenings.

Through cancer education and awareness, I look forward to the day when the survival statistics are more noteworthy than the mortality rate. To learn more, visit www.cancer.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345.

—By Willie Goffney, M.D., FACS

Willie Goffney, M.D., FACS is (volunteer) president of the American Cancer Society, California Division.

Posted on February 14, 2007 09:05 AM