Recognizing Differences

 

Deep South Network team members gather in Birmingham
to discuss cancer disparities.

As we recognize National Minority Cancer Awareness Week this week, I am reminded that one of the failures of our nation and current health-care system is the unequal delivery of our medical discoveries to all segments of the population. While new discoveries and research are helping us make a difference in the fight against cancer, we must also be aware that delivering these discoveries differently causes cancer health disparities. We must remember that minorities suffer a disproportionate share of the cancer burden, as do segments of the population that are less educated, have lower income and/or no health insurance.

Cancer death rates in African Americans and other minority populations are often substantially higher. Reasons for this are fairly clear, as these populations are less likely to get age-appropriate cancer screenings, most likely to engage in activities that increase risk (such as tobacco use, unhealthy eating or lack of physical activity) and are less likely to get high-quality treatment when cancer is diagnosed. Poverty, low education and lack of insurance contribute substantially to these differences.

The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center has a long history of working in communities and in the laboratory to understand and eventually eliminate cancer disparities. To do so requires partnerships with communities to assist them in helping to increase screening rates and physical activity and encourage healthy eating.

We have major community-based programs in the Mississippi Delta, the Alabama Black Belt and inner-city Birmingham to do just that. Through our Deep South Network for Cancer Control, we have already demonstrated that these partnerships can close the gap in screenings. Building trust, relationships and infrastructure in these communities allows us to effectively export cancer knowledge.

The Cancer Center serves a region of the country with a large African-American population and a rapidly growing Hispanic population. Because of this, we are determined to eliminate cancer disparities in Alabama and beyond.

-Ed Partridge, M.D.

Cancer Rates Are Dropping, But There's Still Work to Be Done

A joint report on national cancer statistics recently revealed that rates of death in the United States from all cancers for men and women continued to decline between 2003 and 2007, the most recent reporting period available. This is according to the latest Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, which is published by researchers from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society.


The report also finds that the combined overall rate of new cancer diagnoses for men and women decreased an average of slightly less than 1 percent per year for the same period. The drop in cancer death rates continues a trend that began in the early 1990s.

While this is obviously positive news, there is still a great deal of work left to be done. Alabama has one of the highest rates of cancer mortality in the nation. In 2010, Alabama was estimated to have had 23,640 new cases of cancer and 10,150 deaths from the disease, excluding basal- and squamous-cell skin cancers.

Take, for example, lung cancer. Alabama has one of the highest rates of this disease in the nation, yet we as a state are doing very little to address this. Lung cancer deaths in Alabama could be significantly reduced by enacting a statewide smoke-free environment while also substantially raising the tobacco tax. This would potentially be one of the most impactful sets of laws that our state legislature could enact.

We are proud that the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is at the forefront in leading the fight against cancer. As one of only 40 comprehensive cancer centers in the United States, we are able to contribute significantly to the discoveries that are helping to lower cancer rates. Our scientists are working every day to make our vision a reality. And that is a world where cancer is no longer a major public health problem.

This report is a step in the right direction. But the walk isn't over yet.

-Ed Partridge, M.D.

Avoiding a Colonoscopy is March Madness!

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and of all the major cancers, its screening procedures are probably some of the most feared and avoided - and misunderstood.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and the third most common cancer in men and in women. It is estimated that more than 141,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2011, and approximately 49,000 will die from the disease.

The good news is that colorectal cancer rates have been steadily decreasing over the last 20 years, and that is thanks to improved screening and early detection methods. Colorectal cancer is actually one of the most highly treatable cancers when it's found early. That's because most of these cancers start out as small, non-cancerous growths known as polyps. Early testing can find and detect these polyps, allowing them to be removed before they turn cancerous. Simply put, you can stop cancer before it starts.

There are several tests for colorectal cancer, with the most common being stool tests and colonoscopies. A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a thin, lighted tube is inserted into the rectum to allow the doctor to view the inner lining of the colon. Preparing for the test is more inconvenient than the procedure itself. In fact, people who are having a colonoscopy are given medicine to help them relax; many people sleep through the exam.

Both men and women, beginning at age 50, should have a colonoscopy once every 10 years, and perhaps more often if there is a history of colorectal cancer in their family. I strongly urge you to talk with your doctor or health care professional about which colorectal cancer screening procedure is right for you. Don't let a little discomfort get in the way of saving your life.

-Ed Partridge, M.D.

The Smoke Is Clearing?

A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association that was released today has noted the significant decrease in the prevalence of heavy smokers (20 or more cigarettes a day) in the United States. Also noted was the substantial decrease in California compared to the rest of the country. As pointed out by the report's authors, one of the reasons for the greater decline in California is comprehensive tobacco control programs.

Smoking rates in Alabama remain some of the highest in the country. We have a tremendous opportunity to save lives in Alabama (there have been substantial declines in lung cancer deaths in California) by adopting a statewide clean indoor air bill and increasing state taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

It is amazing that a decade into the 21st century, Alabama continues to allow its citizens to die from an addictive product, when both clean indoor air and tax increases have been shown to substantially reduce consumption. Now is the time to get such legislation passed.

I encourage you to contact your legislator and urge them to act on this problem. And if you or someone you know needs help to quit smoking, please visit http://www.alabamaquitnow.com/.

-Ed Partridge, M.D.

Nutrition Guidelines Needed for Cancer Survivors

In today's Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Ph.D., R.D., the Associate Director for Cancer Prevention and Control at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses evidence supporting nutritional recommendations for cancer survivors, of which there are more than 12 million in the United States alone.

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight should be a high priority for survivors, including at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, a diet rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and limited consumption of red and processed meats as well as alcohol.

The impact of healthy eating and physical activity and its relation to cancer cannot be overemphasized. Evidence continues to mount that unhealthy eating, lack of physical activity and obesity are also related to the development of cancer. And with the publication today, we are even more cognizant of the role that this plays in survivorship.

As residents of the Deep South, we live in a section of the country where obesity is a significant problem, and we must all work together to begin to mitigate this epidemic.

-Ed Partridge, M.D.

Ignite Your Inner Artist at ArtBLINK Gala!

On February 26, the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center will celebrate the culmination of our annual fundraising drive at our annual ArtBLINK Gala. This is a fun and festive event hosted by our Advisory Board, and one that is truly unique in Birmingham.

ArtBLINK features 19 artists, all of whom have strong connections to the state of Alabama, who have just 90 minutes to each create a piece of art while guests watch. Some of our artists sculpt, while others paint, in both traditional and more abstract pieces. Guests can talk to the artists while they work, ask them questions and learn more about them and their art. When the 90 minutes is up, we auction off the art.

All of the money raised from ArtBLINK and the accompanying solicitation campaign goes to the Cancer Center's Fund for Excellence, which supports high-priority areas within the Cancer Center. That includes, but is certainly not limited to, scientific research, faculty recruitment and equipment upgrades. A portion of the money raised also goes toward our patient and family assistance program so that we may help those we serve get through their cancer journey the best way they can.

The goal for ArtBLINK Gala this year is $850,000. We are approaching that goal, but we're not there quite yet. I urge you to support your UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center by making a donation or attending the ArtBLINK Gala. You can do so at the links below.

With your help, we can achieve our goal of eliminating cancer as a major public health problem.

-Ed Partridge, M.D.

Support the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center by making a donation!

Learn more about ArtBLINK Gala!

Cancer Resolutions

Did you know that roughly 25 percent of people break their new year's resolutions within a week, and half of all resolutions are finished within six months? This is according to a study in the Los Angeles Times.

Obviously, the most popular resolutions involve improving diet and increasing exercise. And for good reason, as there's no question that doing those two things can help improve your overall health. However, many people don't realize that as many as 30 percent of all cancers are obesity-related. So diet and exercise can not only help you lose weight, but it can also lower your risk of developing cancer.

There are some other "cancer resolutions" that I encourage you to follow this year, and they have to do with screenings for early detection.

• Get a mammogram. Women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year and continue to do so as long as they are in good health. Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam as part of a periodic, professional health exam at least every three years.
• Get a colonoscopy. Both men and women, beginning at age 50, should have a colonoscopy once every 10 years, and perhaps more often if there is a history of colorectal cancer in their family.
• Get a Pap smear. Specialists recommend that women have their first Pap smears at age 21 and every one to three years afterward, depending on the person's age and medical history. When abnormalities are found early and treated properly, very few progress to cervical cancer.
• Determine if prostate screening is right for you. Beginning at age 50, men should have a discussion with their doctor or health care professional to see if they should be screened for prostate cancer and what type of test is right for them. For men at a higher risk of the disease, those conversations should begin at age 45.
• Stop smoking and stay away from tobacco products! Smoking causes between 80 and 90 percent of all lung cancers, and tobacco is a major cause of many types of head and neck cancer.

These are just a few ways that you can improve your health and either decrease your chances of developing cancer or increasing the chances of it being caught early. I urge you to contact your doctor or health care professional, and keep these resolutions for 2011. Simply applying the knowledge that we already know can make a huge difference.

-Ed Partridge, M.D.