African American Women Bearing Unequal Burden of Colorectal Cancer

WASHINGTON and RED BANK, N.J. -- Despite having the greatest risk of developing and dying from colorectal cancer (CRC) of any gender, race or ethnicity, an astounding 96 percent of African American women do not consider themselves to be at high risk for the disease, according to a new Harris poll. This alarming misperception has resulted in deadly inaction, with 70 percent of African American women over the age of 45 not getting potentially life-saving screenings for CRC. One year after the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) issued updated guidelines for African Americans to begin earlier CRC screenings at age 45, African American women have not gotten the message.

Responding to this significant health threat, the Black Women's Health Imperative and the National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) have joined forces to launch African American Women Dare to be Aware. An educational initiative designed to uniquely address the needs of African American women, the African American Women Dare to Be Aware initiative confronts the issues preventing African American women from getting screened and seeking treatment by daring them to recognize their heightened risk and take action.

"Colorectal cancer is not color-blind, and it has a penchant for African American women," said Lorraine Cole, president and CEO of the imperative.

"Our mission is to let every African American woman in this country know why it's so critical for them to get screened early. We're also giving them tools to help them take action against this deadly but beatable disease," added Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, RN, executive director, NWHRC.

Many African American women are not aware of the benefits of early detection. In fact, if colorectal cancer is detected while still in the localized stage, the five-year survival rate in all African Americans is 83 percent. However, according to the survey, a mere 6 percent of women over 45 discussed CRC the last time they saw their healthcare provider, because they didn't think they were at particular risk (27 percent), their doctor didn't bring it up (15 percent) or they didn't think there was a reason to (16 percent).

Many theories -- some supported by research -- attempt to explain the disparity in screening habits for African Americans, ranging from healthcare access, to socioeconomic factors, to cultural beliefs, to inadequate patient education. Fear and lack of awareness of their heightened risk surfaced as major obstacles to screening for survey respondents; most African American women over age 40 would be more likely to get screened for cancer if they believed they were at risk (94 percent); if they had symptoms (95 percent) -- which do not present until the disease is advanced; if they were not afraid to find out the results (70 percent); if the tests were not so unpleasant (71 percent); and if the side effects of cancer treatment were not so bad (73 percent). Yet only 36 percent of respondents are even aware of treatment options including oral chemotherapy, which may have less severe side effects than intravenous therapy.

"African American women face many barriers to screening, detection and treatment of colorectal cancer, but getting beyond our own fear and learning the facts can go a long way in improving our survival and quality of life," said Edith Mitchell, clinical professor of medicine and program leader in gastrointestinal oncology, Thomas Jefferson University. "Colorectal cancer is not a death sentence, so don't let that stop you from asking your healthcare provider about screening and, if colon cancer is found, treatment. Colorectal cancer is not only treatable but beatable."

When screening reveals the presence of colorectal cancer, there are viable treatment options available depending on the stage of the disease, including surgery, chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, and radiation. The field of colorectal cancer therapy continues to advance, and chemotherapy drugs, including oral chemotherapy, have been effective in eradicating and shrinking tumors and delaying tumor growth. Oral chemotherapy, in particular, is an option that may help some patients continue going to work or spending time with family and friends because they are spending less time in the clinic for treatment.

African American women need to learn about their heightened risk for CRC and take steps to prevent or detect it. African American Women Dare to Be Aware provides critical information and tools to help women take action, including fact sheets; important CRC questions answered by an African American oncologist; a risk assessment tool; an African American colorectal cancer survivor's story; an educational brochure; and a list of important colorectal cancer resources. Please visit the imperative's Web site at www.blackwomenshealth.org and the NWHRC Web site at www.healthywomen.org to access any of these materials.

African American Women Dare to Be Aware is a continuation of NWHRC's Dare to Be Aware program, which is designed to empower all women to take control, face their fears and fight against a disease that is indeed treatable and beatable if diagnosed early.

Colorectal Cancer and African American Women
The third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in all American women, colorectal cancer strikes African American women at a rate that is 17.5 percent higher than in Caucasian women. Equally alarming, African American women have a mortality rate 40 percent higher than in Caucasian women. Fortunately, when colorectal cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate in all African Americans is 83 percent.

Survey Methodology
Harris Interactive® conducted this survey online between February 23 and 27, 2006, on behalf of the National Women's Health Resource Center and the Black Women's Health Imperative, among a nationwide cross section of 505 U.S. African American females aged 40 and over who are online and have never been diagnosed with cancer. The data were weighted by education, age, region, and household income to reflect the characteristics of adults from the Current Population Survey. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC)
The National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) is a leading independent health information source for women. The not-for-profit organization develops and distributes up-to-date and objective women's health information based on the latest advances in medical research and practice. NWHRC believes all women should have access to the most trusted and reliable health information. Informed women are healthier women.

Black Women's Health Imperative
The Black Women's Health Imperative is a not-for-profit education, advocacy, research and leadership development organization that focuses on health issues that disproportionately affect Black women. It is the only national organization devoted solely to ensuring optimum health for Black women across their life span -- physically, mentally and spiritually.

Source: National Women's Health Resource Center

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