Building cancer awareness in African-American communities
Huffington Post contributor Cecelia Brewington, MD, recently shared an important message in regards to screening, during National Minority Health Month (April) and National Minority Cancer Awareness Week (April 9-15).
In the article, she notes that African-Americans are more likely than any other U.S. ethnic or racial group to die from most cancers. She outlines the importance of taking charge of your life by getting screened.
About two-thirds of African-American women reported getting a mammogram in the last two years. Brewington states that there is proof that these numbers may be flawed, as black women may not be getting screened as often as noted. She recommends getting a mammogram every year starting at age 40 and getting tested earlier if any family member has had breast cancer.
Other cancers that Brewington outlines are lung cancer—the largest number of cancer deaths among black men and women—and colorectal cancer, a leading cause of cancer death in African-Americans.
Read full article here:
Jodelle joined TriMed Media Group in 2016 as a senior writer, focusing on content for Radiology Business and Health Imaging. After receiving her master's from DePaul University, she worked as a news reporter and communications specialist.