HEALTH
Cancer and health disparitiesTalk about a cultural change. Hawo Adan-Abdi, 51, readily admitted she was not excited about the prospect of regular breast cancer screenings. But the providers at Whittier Street Health Center (WSHC) persisted and when she saw that women emerged from the test unscathed she eventually relented. More » |
Increasing access key to closing the gapDr. Christopher Lathan, a thoracic oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has his work cut out for him. As director of the Cancer Care Equity Program at the Institute, his goal is to make sure that minorities have access to and receive the quality of care they need to combat their disease. More » |
Tips to close the gapHealth disparities are differences in rates and the effects of diseases between different populations. When it comes to many kinds of cancer, the American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that African Americans experience shorter survival times and higher death rates than people from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Slightly better news is the fact that this health disparity has been shrinking and the combined cancer death rate has been declining among African Americans. More » |
Risk FactorsA risk factor is a characteristic that is likely to increase your chance of a particular disease. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get the disease. Likewise, not having one is not a guarantee against it. Some risk factors for cancer are beyond a person's control, while others can be influenced by behavior and lifestyle. More » |
A life saving timetableCancer screenings can help detect cancer in the early stages when treatment is more successful. Some screenings -- cervical and colorectal -- can actually prevent cancer by removing precancerous lesions. Learn how to examine yourself for skin and head and neck cancers. Early detection can improve survival rates. More » |
