Cancer Deaths Greater Among Missouri Minorities

For Immediate Release:
April 12, 2002

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
PO Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102

Contact: Debi Becker 573-522-2845

Cancer is the second leading cause of death among Missouri's racial and ethnic minorities. In particular, Missouri minorities experience higher
death rates for the four leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the state: lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancers.

Each year, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) designates the third week in April as National Minority Cancer Awareness Week. Bert Malone, director of the Division of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said, "This national observance for April 14-20 is intended to increase awareness of the vital importance of early cancer detection and treatment, which leads to healthier outcomes for minority men and women in Missouri."

Malone reported some of the reasons for cancer health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities include:

• Under-use of screening for breast, cervical, prostate and colorectal cancers.
  
• Delayed cancer diagnosis, coupled with inadequate access to quality cancer treatment and unequal diagnostic work-up and treatment after entry into the healthcare system.
  
• Higher percentage of low-income households among racial and ethnic minorities, resulting in less availability, accessibility and utilization of health services.
  
• Cultural and language barriers to health care services.
  
• Higher incidence of unhealthy lifestyles, such as tobacco use, high-fat diet, and lack of exercise.

Malone noted the evidence indicates there are four primary lifestyle choices that can greatly reduce the risk of cancer: avoid tobacco in all forms, maintain a proper diet, exercise regularly and follow the cancer screening recommendations.

"Avoiding tobacco in all forms is the single-most important lifestyle choice anyone can make in preventing cancer," said Malone. Tobacco use accounts for 87% of lung cancer cases and is also associated with cancers of the mouth, throat, pancreas, cervix, kidney and bladder.

In Missouri, the health department is particularly concerned about tobacco use among Hispanics and African Americans. The percentage of adult Hispanic smokers is one and a half times greater than adult Missouri smokers overall and twice that of adult Hispanic smokers nationally. Additionally, the rate of new lung cancer cases is 12% higher among African Americans, and their lung cancer death rate is 25% higher than that of white Missourians, although smoking rates are similar in African-Americans when compared to whites.

Another good lifestyle choice is to maintain a proper diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain cereals, breads and pastas, while
limiting foods high in fats and sugars. Cutting down on high fat foods lowers the risk of colon, prostate and breast cancers.

The third lifestyle choice, exercise, can be as simple as a brisk walk about 30 minutes most days. Exercise can be effective in supporting the body's defense system against developing cancers, as well as other chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Along with the healthy lifestyle choices just mentioned, Malone strongly encourages minority men and women to seek regular screening for colorectal, prostate, breast and cervical cancers. Malone said, "All of these cancers have screening recommendations that, when followed, may allow early diagnosis, when treatment is most effective."

When it comes to colorectal, prostate, breast and cervical cancers, Missouri's minorities are greatly affected. African-American women have a
lower rate of new breast cancer cases, yet a higher death rate. They also have new cases and death rates of cervical cancer twice as high as for white women. African-American men have a rate of new prostate cancer cases that is just slightly higher then for white men, while the death rate of prostate cancer among African-American men is over twice that of white men. Colorectal cancer affects men and women of all races equally but the death rate of this disease is 30% greater in African Americans than whites.

Malone continued, "The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has a program that provides free mammograms and Pap tests for Missouri women who qualify based on age and income guidelines through Missouri's Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Project (BCCCP)." Information about free mammograms and Pap tests can be obtained by calling toll-free, 1-800-316-0935.

As a result of the findings of the cancer health disparity issue, NCI is sponsoring efforts to develop new culturally and educationally appropriate
cancer awareness campaigns focusing on minorities and to increase access to clinical trials by minorities. Further information about NCI activities can be viewed online at http://plan.cancer.gov/infra/reducing.htm or by calling 1-800-4-CANCER.

Malone concluded, "Healthy lifestyle choices coupled with early detection of cancer greatly increases the probability for successful treatment and survival. Undiagnosed cancers and late treatment, on the other hand, cause soaring death rates."

Fact sheets about minorities and cancer are available from the Intercultural Cancer Council at http://iccnetwork.org/cancerfacts or by calling (713) 798-4617.

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