Cancer Awareness Campaigns

The Minority Health & Research Center houses three grants from the Center for Disease Control / Alabama Department of Public Health to conduct community-based research and develop the Alabama State cancer awareness plan in Colorectal, Ovarian and Prostate Cancer prevention and control.

Prostate Cancer Control

Prostate cancer is the single most common form of cancer in American men other than skin cancer. In 2004, an estimated 230,110 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and approximately 29,900 will die of the disease.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, exceeded only by lung cancer. The incidence of prostate cancer has increased in recent years due to earlier diagnoses in men without symptoms, using the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test.

Research shows prostate cancer has a disproportionate impact on certain segments of the population. Among African American men, prostate cancer exacts a particular high toll. For example, African American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from it than other Americans.

Despite the massive burden of this disease, screening and treatment modalities remain uncertain due to potential treatment complications and disturbing questions regarding the benefits of early detection. The National Cancer Institute and the Alabama Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan for 2001-2005 encourage the public and providers to make informed prostate cancer decisions based on the benefits and risks of various screening and treatment modalities.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention designed to increase prostate cancer awareness and promote informed decision-making among community men and healthcare providers in Alabama.

Objectives

1. Increase awareness among men about the risk factors associated with prostate cancer and the benefits/risks associated with early detection and treatment in order to promote informed decision making.
2. Build community capacity by training local men to serve as volunteer Community Champions/lay health advisors.
3. Develop and disseminate health messages and educational materials (via various media outlets and trained Community Champions) that promote informed decision making.

 

Colorectal Cancer Control

The 1993-97 cancer death rates in the state of Alabama were 178.1 par 100,000, higher than that of the United States 168.3 per 100,000 (ACCCP, 2001-2005) Colorectal cancer was a major contributor to these deaths since it has been recognized as the second leading cause of deaths after lung cancer in the US, during 1995-1999, with the heavier burden of illness and death experienced by minorities, particularly African-Americans (Edwards et al, 2002). In Alabama as in the US, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed and, in 1999, accounted for 12 % of total cancer deaths in the state. According to data from the Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry (ASCR, 2001). Significant disparities in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality are evident in minority and underserved population groups in the state.
Since colorectal cancer is both curable and preventable, its mortality can be dramatically reduced. It is imperative that barriers to effective actions to control and prevent the disease in Alabama be identified and interventions implemented.

Objectives

1. Increase public knowledge and understanding regarding colorectal cancer and risk factors and early warning signs, and the need to request screening.
2. Ensure that primary care providers are recommending an/or conducting appropriate screening tests to their patients according to established guidelines.
3. Identify and address barriers to screening from men and women 50 and older.

 

Ovarian Cancer Control

Ovarian cancer is an insidious disease with a high mortality rate due to presentation at an advanced stage with initial diagnosis. In the United States, there are approximately 23,300 cases diagnosed annually resulting in 13,900 deaths per year. These ominous statistics are echoed in the State of Alabama where ovarian cancer remains the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers.

Tremendous gains have been realized through the development and conduct of research protocols for ovarian cancer. As a testimony to the productivity of these research trials, the median survival for women with ovarian cancer has increased, from 6 months in the early 1970's to 37 months with a response rate of 70%, following debulking surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy. Additionally, recent research studies have demonstrated that screening those patients at high risk for ovarian cancer and instituting preventive measures are associated with improved survival outcomes.

Objectives

1. Develop targeted educational messages relevant to current ongoing clinical trial in ovarian cancer screening, prevention and novel therapeutics. These targeted messages will enhance lay public understanding of familial risk factors that place them at increased risk for familial breast and ovarian cancer.
2. Educate primary care providers about the subtle but present symptoms associated with ovarian cancer possibly leading to earlier diagnosis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For More Information

Principal Investigator:
Theresa Wynn, RN, PhD

Co-Principal Investigator:
Mona Fouad, MD, MPH
Coordinators:
Frank Lawrence, MPH
Sanford Jeames, MA - Consultant

Watch prostate cancer prevention TV campaign

Free Downloads - QuickTime / RealPlayer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For More Information:

Co-Principal Investigator:
Mona Fouad, MD, MPH

Watch colorectal cancer prevention TV campaign

Free Downloads - QuickTime / RealPlayer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For More Information:

Principal Investigator:
Mack Barnes, MD

Co-Principal Investigator:
Mona Fouad, MD, MPH

Coordinator:
Luevenia Barnes

Watch ovarian cancer prevention TV campaign

Free Downloads - QuickTime / RealPlayer