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The research suggests that initiatives aimed at raising awareness and utilization of breast cancer screening may improve breast cancer survival rates for African American women, who have a higher risk of death from the disease compared to whites. The study is published in the August 1, 2008 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
A disproportionate number of deaths from breast cancer occur in African American women, a disparity attributed to later stage of disease at diagnosis and diagnosis at an earlier age. Treatment differences may also contribute to the higher risk of mortality.
To assess the effectiveness of outreach programs on breast cancer stage among African American women, Sheryl Gabram, M.D., an Emory University surgical oncologist and director of the AVON Comprehensive Breast Center at the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, reported on a program implemented in 2001 with two components: Community Health Advocacy and Patient Navigation. The Community Health Advocacy component includes public educational programs that encourage mammography screening, teach the importance of breast self exams, and instruct individuals to see a trained healthcare provider. The Patient Navigation component involves breast cancer survivors who communicate directly with all patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the AVON Breast Center. Patient Navigators (PNs) encourage patients to follow-up with recommended medical care and access needed resources such as finances, transportation, and support services.
Between 2001 and 2004, the program conducted a total of 1,148 community interventions for more than 10,000 participants. During that same time period, a total of 487 patients were identified, diagnosed, and treated for breast cancer at the AVON Comprehensive Breast Center (89 percent African American, 5 percent Caucasian, 2 percent Hispanic, and 4 percent other race/ethnicity). Dr. Gabram and her team found that there was a doubling in the proportion of Stage 0 non-invasive breast cancers (from 12.4 percent to 25.8 percent) over the study period, while the proportion of women diagnosed with Stage IV invasive breast cancers dropped from 16.8 percent to 9.4 percent.
"This reciprocal deviation of Stage 0 versus Stage IV cancers has implications on prognosis, and ultimately outcome for these women if recommended treatment guidelines are followed," the authors wrote. They, along with leadership from Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health team, are currently conducting studies to see if the Patient Navigation program successfully influences patients to accept treatment recommendations and to adhere to appointments after they are diagnosed with breast cancer. (Research has revealed that many patients with breast cancer refuse or do not receive appropriate therapy.)
The authors concluded that programs with Community Health Advocates (CHAs) who encourage mammography screening and stress the importance of early diagnosis should be jointly emphasized with the efforts of the Patient Navigators (PNs) who encourage acceptance of and adherence to treatment standards.
Article: "Effects of an outreach and internal navigation program on breast cancer diagnosis in an urban cancer center with a large African-American population." Sheryl G.A. Gabram, Mary Jo B. Lund, Jessica Gardner, Nadjo Hatchett, Harvey L. Bumpers, Joel Okoli, Monica Rizzo, Barbara J Johnson, Gina B Kirkpatrick, and Otis W. Brawley. CANCER; Published Online: June 23, 2008 (DOI: 10.002/cncr.23568); Print Issue Date: August 1, 2008. -American Cancer Society
Posted June 23rd, 2008 by harminka
The Sister Study
It is becoming more and more evident that diseases can affect all of us, but in different ways. As stated in the article above breast cancer has an aggressive affect on African American women. But there is one study that aims to benefit all women, including African American. The Sister Study is a long-term observational study of 50,000 women ages 35-74, who have a sister with breast cancer, to help learn the environmental and genetic causes of the disease.
When diagnosed most women ask, “Why and how did I get this disease? Is it something I did or was exposed to?” Unfortunately, as of today, there is no clear answer. Wouldn’t you like to know if breast cancer is caused by something women come in contact with at work, at home, or in their communities? That’s what the Sister Study is trying to answer.
Without black women, researchers will have a hard time learning why breast cancer occurrence and survival are different for them. Black women of all ages and walks of life are at risk for this disease and the factors that increase a woman’s chances of developing or surviving breast cancer may differ for African American and white women. Sisters of women with breast cancer are twice as likely as other women to develop breast cancer themselves, possibly because of shared genes and experiences.
The Sister Study is a way for African American women who have never had breast cancer themselves, but their sister has, to honor her and help women for generations to come. Learning the causes leads to more understanding of the disease and how it affects all women.
For more information about the study please visit www.sisterstudy.org or call 1-877-4SISTER.
Sincerely,
CB
On behalf of the Sister Study