Action Proposal on Prostate Cancer in African Americans

American Cancer Society
Tuesday, 13 January 1998

Washington 1998/01/13 -The American Cancer Society today issued a National Blueprint for Action describing a multifaceted set of proposals aimed at overcoming the disproportionate burden that prostate cancer imposes on African American men.

According to the Society, African American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world and their death rate from this cancer is twice that of white men. The reasons for these differences are not known. The Society estimates that 184,500 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in American men in l998, African American and white combined, making it the leading cause of cancer in the nation.

Charles McDonald, M.D., president-elect of the American Cancer Society said that the proposed plan was the product of a national meeting held in Houston in November, involving more than 260 lay and medical leaders dealing with these issues. Representatives from numerous African American, medical and government organizations collaborated on the meeting's agenda and helped to develop the action steps. Many have already pledged to collaborate on implementation.

"This is an overarching proposal," said Dr. McDonald. "One which might replace the helter-skelter separate organization approach."

Dr. McDonald said that while the proposed plan included many action steps which were organized in four main categories; research, education, support for patients and families, and public policy, there were five critical challenges, he emphasized, that stand out. He listed them as:

1. The urgent need to increase research regarding prostate cancer, especially in African American men; specifically into its cause, risk factors, potential prevention and new effective treatments.

2. The necessity to involve African Americans in research design, in the implementation of clinical research, in the development of education initiatives, and as patient participants in clinical research trials.

3. The mandate for effective lay and professional education regarding prostate cancer, especially for primary care health providers.

4. The challenge of strengthening the capacity of grassroots organizations, particularly in the African American community, to effectively engage in advocacy and in education and patient support initiatives.

5. The importance of developing more community-based support programs for African American patients and their families.

John R. Kelly, Ph.D., vice-chairman of the American Cancer Society's board of directors explained that the American Cancer Society was prompted to call for the Houston leadership meeting to develop an action course because of the "alarming burden of disease in African American men."

Dr. Kelly, who currently chairs the Society's scientific research committee, said that the American Cancer Society, in addition to its determination to expand its own programs in prostate cancer, sees the Society's role as a catalyst or facilitator for collaborative action with national groups and with smaller groups at the local level.

"We have to attack this problem very much like we did with breast cancer," said Dr. McDonald. "We very much need a compelling national movement. Fifteen years ago a woman with breast cancer suffered the loss of her breast, but research gave us the clinical tools to allow today for lumpectomy as an option to total mastectomy. I'm convinced we can find similar answers for the prostate cancer questions we currently face, " he added.

Thomas Dortch, president of 100 Black Men of America agreed that the action proposals must be moved forward by individual organizations and collectively as partners. He has pledged to ask other African American organizations to join the collaboration and plans to develop a "curriculum" on prostate cancer for meetings of 100 Black Men of America.

Dr. Kelly said that the American Cancer Society will distribute the Action Proposal to health policy makers, professional societies, and other organizations as a national call to action. "Prostate cancer is a major priority of the American Cancer Society," said Dr. Kelly. "We currently fund $8 million in research support and mount a nationwide patient and family support program called "Man to Man."

"But prostate cancer, particularly among African Americans is a disgraceful tragedy which needs a holistic approach to knowledge, awareness and advocacy. This proposal of actions is the beginning of just such an approach," he said.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org