Curbing Colorectal Cancer in Minority Populations

(NewsUSA) – April is National Minority Health Month, and Black Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN), and underserved Americans, are among those disproportionately affected by colorectal cancer, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (Alliance), the leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the disease. The Alliance is expanding its health equity efforts to increase awareness of colorectal cancer risk in minority populations and to improve access to screening and care. “Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when caught early,” said Cedrek McFadden, MD, colorectal cancer surgeon and Alliance Medical Scientific Advisory Committee member. “Providing equity and access for minority and underserved communities with barriers to screening and care must be a priority to help decrease incidence and mortality rates.” To further address disparities, the Alliance has created a Health Equity Fund and Health Equity Advisory Committee to forge partnerships that: ●Offer free or low-cost screening options to more Americans in need. ●Expand financial assistance for patients during treatment. ●Enable innovative research to identify reasons for and solutions to disparities. ●Connect those most in need with high-quality and potentially lifesaving screening and treatment options. “The Colorectal Cancer Alliance is committed to breaking down barriers to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment,” said Angele Russell, Senior...