Newswise — The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) is making experts available to discuss risk factors, treatment and prevention options for the various types of cancers that are more prevalent in ethnic and minority groups during this National Minority Cancer Awareness Week (April 20 " 26). The American Cancer Society (ACS) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) choose to highlight this week because of high cancer rates and deaths for these populations living in the United States.
While the exact reasons for this unequal cancer burden among different minority groups are not known, some factors include lower incomes, less or no health insurance, and greater poverty than the general population. As a result, members of these populations may put off the expense of seeing a doctor until they are very sick and are diagnosed at a later stage, and thus have a poorer chance of survival.
Key Statistics about Cancer in Minorities:
- African American women are less likely to develop breast cancer, but are more likely to die from the disease if they develop it.
- African American men have a 60% higher rate of developing prostate cancer and almost twice the rate of dying from prostate cancer than white men
- Hispanics have a higher rate of cancer linked with infection such as uterine cervix, liver, and stomach.
Studies show that cancer may be prevented by: maintaining a healthy weight, keeping physically active, limiting alcohol consumption, refraining from smoking, and by having regular cancer screenings
CINJ experts available for comment include:
Shawna Hudson, PhD, medical sociologist, director of community research in the Office of Extramural Affairs at CINJ; and assistant professor of family medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Hudson has recently conducted research on health care provider barriers to cancer screening in relation to racial/ethnic minorities and other medically underserved populations. She is also an active member in such groups as the Sisters Network of Central New Jersey: an African-American Breast Cancer Survivors Group and the IMPACT-NJ initiative (Improving Minority and medically Underserved Participation and Access to Cancer Clinical Trials in New Jersey).
Kiameesha R. Evans, MPH, CHES, program director of community outreach in the Office of Extramural Affairs at CINJ. Ms. Evans is presently conducting qualitative research on barriers to participation in cancer research studies in the African American and Hispanic community and working on a colorectal cancer screening DVD. She is also the Co-Chair for the NJ Cancer Education and Early Detection (NJCEED) Public and Professional Education Committee.
Bruce G. Haffty, M.D., chief of Radiation Oncology at CINJ; and professor and chair, Department of Radiology Oncology at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Haffty can address the effects of radiation on breast cancer, both pre and post surgery and the role of "sequencing" radiation and chemotherapy in certain treatment regiments. He also can discuss the importance of continued clinical study on radiation therapy. Dr. Haffty recently conducted research on the racial differences in mutation frequency in breast cancer susceptibility genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Laurie J. Kirstein, M.D., surgical oncologist at CINJ; and assistant professor of surgery at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Kirstein is the lead author of several publications focusing on such subjects as when a mastectomy can be avoided and the issue of cancer pain management. She has also done general research on the effects of social, ethnic, religious and cultural attitudes on breast self-examinations.
Lorna RodrÃguez, M.D., Ph.D., chief of Gynecologic Oncology, CINJ; and associate professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She participates in clinical research regarding ovarian cancer prevention in patients at high risk of developing the disease. Dr. Rodriguez can discuss the importance of annual screenings and the benefits of the new cancer vaccination designed to prevent the human papillomavirus (HPV), subtypes of which can lead to cervical cancer. Outside of the United States, cervical cancer is the number one killer of women worldwide, mostly due to the lack of screenings for underserved populations
Robert DiPaola, M.D., chief of Medical Oncology, UMNDJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. His research includes the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. As executive director of the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center at CINJ, DiPaola can discuss the increased risk of prostate cancer African American men face.
Mark Stein, M.D., medical oncologist and assistant professor of medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He is active in research regarding genitourinary cancers including treatment regimens for prostate cancer. Dr. Stein can speak about common misconceptions regarding the different types of cancer, which are prevalent among ethnic and minority groups.
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