Keeping Well in Mind, Body and Spirit June 13

 This popular FREE series continues on Thursday, June 13, from 11:30-1:00 with Head & Neck Cancer:  Early Detection is the Key. Specialist Dr. Fernando Gomez-Rivera is the featured speaker.  Dr. Gomez-Rivera will present an interactive program regarding the types of Head, Neck & Throat cancer and answer your questions.   The presentation will be at the Halifax County Cancer Association office, 60 Main Street, Halifax.   Please bring your lunch and a friend!   Drinks and dessert will be provided. Call the Cancer Association to make a reservation, 434-476-2714 or email hcca.hope@gmail.com.

I’m Cured… Now What? July 27

Conference for Teen and Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer.  The purpose is to provide information on long term effects of treatment and other issues so that survivors will be better able to advocate for themselves and lead healthy and productive lives.

This year, a special emphasis will be on siblings and family healing.  July 27, 8:30-4:30pm at Life With Cancer Family Center, Fairfax, VA. 

 For more information, contact Connie Connor (703-531-1515). 

Join Your Cancer Colleagues: Register for the June 13 Forum to Learn About the New Cancer Plan:

 The quarterly CACV meeting on Thursday, June 13, will be expanded into a forum highlighting the Virginia Cancer Plan 2013-2017 and ways to collaborate on implementation projects. Please bring colleagues interested in impacting cancer in Virginia.

Registration for the free event is open here (links to a Google form, which may not be accessible on more secure system). One aspect of the forum is that its agenda can be localized and used for future regional forums.

The June meeting will open at 8:30 AM and end at 3:30 PM at the Virginia Community Healthcare Association at 3831 Westerre Parkway, Henrico, where free parking is available; lunch will be provided. No videoconferencing.

Diffusion of Preventive Innovation: Racial and Rural Differences in Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control Practices

This report examines differences in receipt of cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination associated with residence and race/ethnicity. Data for the study were drawn from two nationally representative samples of medical practices, the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

• Key Facts
• Full Report

Key findings:

Patient Receipt of Cervical Cancer Screening or Vaccination Services

• No significant differences were observed for type of cervical cancer screening modality (conventional, liquid or unspecified) by patient residence (urban versus rural) or by race/ethnicity (white versus African American women).

• A significantly higher proportion of women living in rural counties (69.6%) received liquid based Pap testing in hospital outpatient settings than women in urban counties (39%).

• A significantly higher proportion of women residing in urban counties received HPV DNA testing versus women residing in rural counties (10% versus 3.3%, respectively).

• No significant differences were observed in the receipt of HPV vaccination by patient residence.

Physician Providers for Women Receiving Pap or Other Cervical Screening Services

• Most patients receiving cervical screening, regardless of residence, were seen by urban physicians (92.4%).

• Significantly higher proportion of patients in rural practices were publicly insured than patients in urban practices (36.7% versus 23.0%).

Contact information:

Jessica D. Bellinger, PhD

South Carolina Rural Health Research Center

Phone: 803.251.6317

bellingj@mailbox.sc.edu

Social Determinants of Black-White Disparities in Breast Cancer Mortality: A Review

Despite the recent decline in breast cancer mortality, African American women continue to die from breast cancer at higher rates than do White women. Beyond the fact that breast cancer tends to be a more biologically aggressive disease in African American than in White women, this disparity in breast cancer mortality also reflects social barriers that disproportionately affect African American women. These barriers hinder cancer prevention and control efforts and modify the biological expression of disease. The present review focuses on delineating social, economic, and cultural factors that are potentially responsible for Black-White disparities in breast cancer mortality. This review was guided by the social determinants of health disparities model, a model that identifies barriers associated with poverty, culture, and social injustice as major causes of health disparities. These barriers, in concert with genetic, biological, and environmental factors, can promote differential outcomes for African American and White women along the entire breast cancer continuum, from screening and early detection to treatment and survival. Barriers related to poverty include lack of a primary care physician, inadequate health insurance, and poor access to health care. Barriers related to culture include perceived invulnerability, folk beliefs, and a general mistrust of the health care system. Barriers related to social injustice include racial profiling and discrimination. Many of these barriers are potentially modifiable. Thus, in addition to biomedical advancements, future efforts to reduce disparities in breast cancer mortality should address social barriers that perpetuate disparities among African American and White women in the United States. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(11):2913–23)  Click here to read full review

Resources Examine Racial and Ethnic Disparities Among Men at the State Level

The Foundation has created a package of resources, including a comprehensive report, fact sheets and other materials, that document the persistence of disparities on 22 indicators between white men and men of color, including rates of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, AIDS and cancer, and access to health insurance and health screenings.

The resources provide a rare look at state-level variations, quantifying where disparities are greatest. Also available are state-level data for men of many racial and ethnic populations that are often difficult to obtain.

Click here to learn more

Cancer......New Challenge

• HHS: New challenge announced. Reducing Cancer Among Women of Color App Challenge, calling on developers to create a mobile application that would help educate underserved and minority women about cancer and screenings, and allow secure access to medical records. The submission deadline is February 5, 2013. Learn More

Register for Upcoming Workshops

Like all of CancerCare’s services, our workshops are completely free of charge — no phone charges apply. However, pre-registration is required to secure your place on the call. To register for a workshop, please select from the list below and fill in your contact information.

If you have any questions, please email CancerCare’s Education Department at connect@cancercare.org.