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\"Two leading oncologists, along with experts spanning several medical disciplines, shed light on the global pandemic of cancer, particularly the difference in diagnosis, treatment, and care between global communities\"--Provided by publisher.

Introduction American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) experience significant cancer incidence and mortality disparities, with elevated cancer risk factor exposure, lower cancer screening rates, and poorer quality of cancer care relative to non-Hispanic Whites. To address these issues, the Southeastern American Indian Cancer health Equity Partnership (SAICEP) was formed to understand and address cancer disparities among southeastern American Indians (AIs). Methods SAICEP formed in 2021 through the Community Outreach and Engagement offices of the NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in North Carolina (NC). The catchment areas for these cancer centers include the tribal homelands for eight state and federally recognized Tribes, representing the largest AI populations in the eastern US. SAICEP seeks to: (1) increase awareness of cancer health needs of AI populations; (2) expand access to cancer health education and build community capacity to address cancer health needs; (3) develop collaborative research relationships to better understand and address the AI cancer burden. Results For Aim 1, SAICEP created a virtual speakers’ series, featuring prominent AI cancer researchers and clinicians, hosted by the UNC Lineberger Cancer Network three times a year. To date, 10 webinars have been convened, with a total of 538 participants. For Aim 2, SAICEP participates in tribal events throughout the year, reaching over 3500 AIs and disseminating printed cancer educational materials and giveaways. For Aim 3, SAICEP secured funding to conduct analyses to assess cancer incidence, mortality, and care quality for NC AIs, to collect information to understand community cancer needs and culturally adapt and disseminate information on cancer screening and risk reduction. Conclusion Through its targeted research and engagement, SAICEP has successfully moved towards achieving its goal of understanding and addressing cancer disparities among AIs in NC. Future directions will involve the development of a community advisory board and collaborations with Tribes in other states. Plain Language Summary American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) face significant challenges with cancer, including greater exposure to risk factors, lower screening rates, limited access to quality care compared to non-Hispanic Whites, and higher rates of cancer-related deaths. To address these issues, the Southeastern American Indian Cancer health Equity Partnership (SAICEP) was created. SAICEP’s mission is to understand and address the burden of cancer among American Indian (AI) people in our combined service area. SAICEP was formed in 2021 as a partnership between the three NCI designated cancer centers in North Carolina, which serve multiple tribal nations and Urban Indian organizations. SAICEP engages with Native people through initiatives like a virtual speakers’ series featuring AI cancer experts. So far, SAICEP has hosted 10 webinars, reaching 538 attendees. Additionally, SAICEP participates in tribal events, sharing educational materials and information to help communities understand and reduce cancer risks. Our team has also secured funding to study cancer trends, care quality, and community needs for AIs in North Carolina, which helps identify ways to improve care and support cancer prevention. SAICEP’s efforts have made meaningful progress toward understanding and addressing cancer disparities among AIs. Looking ahead, the group plans to create a community advisory board and expand its work to include partnerships with Tribes in other states. By combining research, education, and community outreach, SAICEP aims to ensure AI communities have the tools and resources they need to fight cancer.

Although research has reported that prostate cancer (PCa) incidence and mortality rates are among the highest for African Americans, the data is inconclusive regarding PCa rates in native African men, Black men residing in other countries, and men in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Data reveals that prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and disease incidence have risen significantly in developing and Asian countries, and PCa has become one of the leading male cancers in many of those nations. The objective of this study was to review published peer-reviewed studies that address PCa in different regions of the world to get a better understanding of how PCa incidence, prevalence, detection, and mortality are influenced by race, ethnicity, and geography. A secondary goal was to compare PCa data from various world regions to contextualize how disproportionate the incidence and mortality rates are among men from the African diaspora versus men of European, Hispanic, and Asian descent, as well as to highlight the need for more robust screening and treatment guidelines in developing countries. There are differences in incidence and mortality rates between men of African, Asian, Hispanic, and European ancestry, confirming the involvement of genetic factors. However, differences between men of the same race and ethnicity who live in different countries suggest that environmental factors may also be implicated. Availability and access to diagnostic and health-care services as well as recommendations regarding PCa testing vary from country to country and contribute to the variability in incidence and mortality rates.

Background Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the United States, Black women face significant disparities in screening mammograms, experience higher rates of breast cancer at advanced stages, and are more likely to die from the disease. Aims This study aimed to develop and beta-test a virtual health navigation program to enhance breast cancer care within the Black community. We identified barriers to utilizing virtual patient navigators and factors impacting the adoption of virtual navigation for breast cancer information among Black women. Methods The vCONET (Virtual Community Oncology Navigation and Engagement) intervention was delivered through the Second Life virtual platform. The informational content was collaboratively developed with community members. Participants engaged in an informational session on risk factors, mammography information, and preventive behaviors. Surveys (n = 18) and focus groups (n = 9) assessed knowledge and insights into perceptions. Results Findings revealed a positive impact of the intervention, with participants expressing increased knowledge and willingness to seek further information about breast cancer prevention, and highlighted the engaging nature of the virtual environment, while acknowledging potential technological challenges. Conclusion Virtual health navigation shows promise in addressing breast cancer disparities by promoting awareness among Black women. Future efforts should optimize virtual navigation approaches through collaborative engagement for lasting impact, enhancing breast cancer care and equity in communities of color.

Background To understand the dynamics that limit use of risk-management options by women at high risk of breast cancer, there is a critical need for research that focuses on patient perspectives. Prior research has left important gaps: exclusion of high-risk women not in risk-related clinical care, exclusion of non-white populations, and lack of attention to the decision-making processes that underlie risk-management choices. Our objective was to create a more inclusive dataset to facilitate research to address disparities related to decision making for breast cancer risk management. Methods The Daughter Sister Mother Project survey collects comprehensive information about the experiences of women at high risk of breast cancer. We collected novel measures of feelings about and reactions to cancer screenings; knowledge, barriers, and facilitators of risk-management options; beliefs related to cancer risk and risk management; and involvement with loved ones who had cancer. Eligible individuals were non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic Black adult women who self-identified as having high risk of breast cancer and had no personal history of cancer. Between October 2018 and August 2019, 1053 respondents completed the online survey. Of these, 717 were confirmed through risk prediction modeling to have a lifetime breast cancer risk of ≥ 20%. Sociodemographic characteristics of this sample were compared to those of nationally representative samples of the US population: the 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey and the Pew Research Center report: Jewish Americans in 2020 . Results The sample of 717 women at objectively high risk of breast cancer was largely (95%) recruited from non-clinical sources. Of these respondents, only 31% had seen a genetic counselor, 34% had had genetic testing specific to breast cancer risk, and 35% had seen at least one breast or cancer care specialist. The sample includes 35% Black respondents and 8% with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. Although encompassing a substantial range of ages, incomes, and education levels, respondents are overall somewhat younger, higher-income, and more educated than the US population as a whole. Conclusions The DSM dataset offers comprehensive data from a community-based, diverse sample of women at high risk of breast cancer. The dataset includes substantial proportions of Black and Ashkenazi Jewish women and women who are not already in clinical care related to their breast cancer risk. This sample will facilitate future studies of risk-management behaviors among women who are and are not receiving high-risk care, and of variations in risk-management experiences across race and ethnicity.

The objective of this paper is to describe 7 years of implementation of a multi-sector, whole community cancer prevention program and share lessons learned in multi-sector capacity and partnership building. Be Well Baytown is led by the University of Texas MD Anderson Comprehensive cancer center and is centered around a community coalition (Steering Committee) based in Baytown, Texas. The program aimed to implement evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to address modifiable risk factors for cancer through local Collaborating Organizations. EBI implementation, investments in capacity building (ie, technical assistance, program evaluation, sustainability planning, etc.), Steering Committee member partnerships, and overall reach of the initiative were assessed. Eight Collaborating Organizations across 6 sectors received more than 3500 capacity building hours to plan and deliver EBIs in the community between 2018 and 2024. The initiative sustained reach over the first 7 years of implementation with 93% of the city population reached in 2024. Partnerships between organizations increased over time with Steering Committee members (n = 17) reporting an average of 14.1 partners in 2024. Whole-community interventions require initial and sustained buy-in across multiple sectors. The experience of the program over 7 years demonstrates the potential for whole-community interventions that prioritize cross-sectoral collaboration and local capacity building.

Introduction Clinical research participation is under-represented among minoritized groups (eg, Black Americans) leading to suboptimal generalizability of findings and likely propagating inequities in cancer outcomes. Offices of Community Outreach and Engagement at comprehensive cancer centers establish bidirectional relationships between institutions and communities to facilitate catchment-concordant clinical research. We describe a program to educate and empower community health workers (CHWs) to act as clinical research advocates within their communities. Methods Academic and community stakeholders adapted existing evidence-based educational materials addressing importance of clinical research. The resulting program was entitled Community Research Academy to Foster RepresenTation (CRAFT). CRAFT is a 3-hour “train the trainer” session including introduction to clinical trials with “myth busters”, “Ask the Participant” panel, and hands-on experience finding a clinical trial. CRAFT was evaluated for acceptability, change in knowledge/perception, maintenance, and suggestions for curriculum improvement. Results Training was held in December 2023 with 21 CHWs, with a refresher training in July 2024 with 19 CHWs. At initial training, all participants reported ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ satisfaction with CRAFT. Results indicate 48% reported increased knowledge and 33% improved perception, and 21% demonstrated increased objective knowledge of clinical trials. At refresher training, 94% reported ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ satisfaction with CRAFT, 47% reported increased knowledge and 73% increased objective knowledge of clinical trials. Of those completing both sessions and all objective knowledge questions, 50% maintained or improved their score. Qualitative feedback indicated need for additional training (eg, more testimonials, more facts to supplement “myth busting”, more trainings, additional information on how to present to the public, and collaboration with academic health system staff during future CHW-facilitated programs). Conclusion CRAFT increased awareness, knowledge, and perception of clinical research among diverse CHWs with maintenance over time. Next steps include refining CRAFT, administering CRAFT to volunteer community health advisors, continuing evaluation, and sharing with other institutions.

PurposePeer support networks have been suggested to have significant utility in the care of patients with cancer, especially among racial minorities. This article proposes an approach to integrate peer support networks into the care of racial minorities with cancer.MethodsMethods to integrate peer support groups across racial minorities with cancer include utilizing language and religion in strategic recruitment of peer supporters, recruiting minority peer supporters in online oncology peer support groups, and emphasizing relationship & trust building for participant retention.ResultsLanguage concordance among peer support groups may enhance patient understandability, emotional expression, and create a sense of community and safety. Religious integration may also promote support group accessibility, particularly among Blacks, who tend to depend on their religious communities for cancer care guidance to a greater extent. In addition to providing knowledge, online opportunities may also decrease cancer-related stress, depression, and trauma. Trust between individuals and their sociocultural environment and healthcare system, as well as between the community and the healthcare system, is necessary, particularly for racial minorities who may harbor a historical mistrust of the healthcare system.ConclusionsTo close the racial cancer care gap, a multi-pronged approach is crucial. This includes establishing tailored peer support networks within minority communities that account for language, religion, and cultural factors to build trust and meet psycho-social needs. However, peer support is just one tool. Other critical tools such as holding healthcare institutions accountable for providing equitable care to racial minorities is equally vital in reducing disparities and improving survival outcomes.