National Conference Aims to Eliminate Disparities in Cancer Treatment and Deaths for African Americans

WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ —

   WHAT:   The National Conference on African Americans and Cancer           http://www.minority-healthcare.com/ncaac_2007/index.html            This national cancer care and prevention forum convenes primary           care providers and oncology specialists to discuss the multi-           factorial Cancer epidemic in the African American Community. Over           one hundred medical and community leaders will convene to discuss           the state of the cancer epidemic and to better understand how this           resurging epidemic threatens to undo all the progress made in the           last ten years in African Americans at risk. Despite improvements           in cancer diagnostic technology and treatment, African American           patients are presenting later in the course of the disease with           less favorable results for treatment, and are less likely to           survive beyond the five year mark, the traditional clinical           measurement for a “cancer cure”. This meeting will produce           cultural competency guidelines with the goal to increase African           Americans’ awareness and access to cancer testing and treatment.    WHEN:   Monday and Tuesday, October 22nd and 23rd, 2007           (8:30am – 5:30pm EDT)    WHO:    Dr. Joycelyn Elders, Former US Surgeon General; Harold P. Freeman,           MD, Director of the National Cancer Institute’s Center to Reduce           Health Disparities and Medical Director for the Ralph Lauren           Center for Cancer Care and Prevention; Lovell A. Jones, PhD,           Director, Center for Research on Minority Health at MD Anderson           Cancer Center – University of Texas; numerous Faculty and staff           from renowned Fox Chase Cancer Center; and Wilmington Mayor James           Baker among others. (See complete list of presenters below.)    WHERE:  Doubletree Hotel Downtown – Wilmington, DE (Legal District)    WHY:    Because:           — African American women have a 36% higher death rate from breast              cancer than their white counterparts.           — African American men have the highest mortality rate for              prostate cancer of any racial or ethnic group in the US.           — The death rate from all cancers combined was 35% higher in              African American men and 18% higher in African American women.           — African American women are twice as likely to die from cervical              cancer as white women.           — African American men have a 30% higher death rate from lung              cancer than white men.           — Source:  American Cancer Society    The complete list of faculty and presenters includes:    — Dr. Joycelyn Elders, Former U.S. Surgeon General – Clinton      Administration   — Harold P. Freeman MD – Polo Ralph Lauren Cancer Center, New York   — Carol L. Brown MD – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York   — Winston Wilkins, Director – US DHHS Office for Civil Rights   — Mayor James M. Baker – Wilmington, Delaware   — Pastor Luke J. Robinson – Quinn Chapel AME Church, Frederick, MD   — David Y.T. Chen MD – Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia   — Natalie E. Joseph MD – Fox Chase Cancer Center   — Veda N. Giri MD – Fox Chase Cancer Center   — William J. Hicks MD – The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer      Center, Columbus   — Lovell A. Jones PhD – The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer      Center, Houston   — Mollie Howerton PhD – Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins      University, Baltimore   — Fannie Gaston-Johansson PhD – Johns Hopkins School of Nursing   — Constance Sumner RN, MSN – Fox Chase Cancer Center   — JoAnn Coleman RN, MS – Johns Hopkins Hospital   — Bernadette Dugan, RN – Fox Chase Cancer Center   — Patrick A. Morrison MSW – Fox Chase Cancer Center   — Connie Ziegfeld RN/MS – East Baltimore Medical Center   — K. Mary Hess – Founder and Director, National Conference on African      Americans and Cancer  

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