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| Minority Matters |
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The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported that
"Minority populations in the United States continue to grow at a rapid rate. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, during 2000 to 2010, the African American population will grow by 12.9% and the Hispanic population by 34.1% (the largest increase by any single minority group for this decade).
Cancer incidence and death rates in minority populations also is a growing issue. Minorities, including African Americans and Hispanics, have lower overall survival rates for many cancers. Factors that may contribute to this include lack of education about cancer risk-reduction strategies, symptoms and screening and reduced access to cancer screening and treatment facilities.
African American and Hispanic men and women are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer in later, more advanced stages than white men and women.
Factors that contribute to this may include:
- Lack of adherence to regular screening exams
- Delayed follow-up when abnormalities are found during screening
Breast and prostate cancers are the most commonly diagnosed cancers among African American and Hispanic women and men, respectively." www.mdanderson.org
A couple of agencies attempting to address minority cancer issues are the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparites (CRCHD), and National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD).
According to the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparites:
"One in four deaths in the United States is attributable to cancer, and one in three Americans will eventually develop some form of cancer. . . But the burden of cancer is too often greater for the poor, ethnic minorities, and the uninsured than for the general population."
CRCHD, a service of the National Cancer Institute aims to reduce cancer health disparities. http://crchd.cancer.gov/
The National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities "promotes minority health and leads, coordinates, supports, and assesses the NIH effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate health disparities. The NCMHD works independently and in partnership with the NIH Institutes and Centers and with other Federal agencies and grassroots organizations in minority and in other medically underserved communities to:
- Conduct and support basic, clinical, social and behavioral health disparities research;
- Promote infrastructure development and training;
- Foster emerging programs;
- Disseminate information; and
- Reach out to minority and other health disparities communities."
www.nih.gov/about/almanac/organization/NCMHD.htm
More on minority health:
MI Dept of Community Health
Office of Minority Health
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Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both
men (after prostate cancer) and women (after breast cancer). In addition, "more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined".
Researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center say that "By simply eating four or more servings of green salad a week and working in the garden once or twice a week, smokers and nonsmokers alike may be able to substantially reduce the risk of developing lung cancer".
WebMDhealth.com suggests that "Vegetable and fruit gardening can put fresh produce on your table, helping provide essential vitamins, minerals and enzymes lacking in the diets of many Americans. And if you garden organically, you reduce the possibility of herbidies, pesticides or fungicides entering your body".
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