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news release |
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ANDREW J. SPANO, Westchester County Executive JOSHUA LIPSMAN, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of Health SUSAN TOLCHIN, Director
of Communications |
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CONTACT: SUSAN TOLCHIN (914) 995-2932
MARY LANDRIGAN (914) 813-5013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 24, 2003
HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO OBSERVE NATIONAL MINORITY CANCER AWARENESS WEEK
The Westchester
County Department of Health will observe National Minority Cancer Awareness
Week on April 20-26 by focusing on increasing the public’s awareness of the
unequal burden of cancer among minority populations.
“Although cancer has an effect on a large number of American families, certain communities of color suffer disproportionately from the disease,” said Joshua Lipsman, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of Health for Westchester County. “Nationally, disparities exist in both the number of new cancers diagnosed and the number of cancer deaths among people of different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds,” he added.
Overall, African Americans are more likely to develop cancer than persons of any other racial and ethnic group. For instance, lung cancer is twice as common in African American men than in white men. In addition, blacks are also more likely to die from cancer than persons of any other racial/ethnic group. African American men have the highest cancer death rate in the country and African American women have the second highest cancer death rate.
“The reason one person develops cancer and another person does not is unknown,” added Dr. Lipsman. “However, the National Cancer Institute has attributed higher cancer death rates and lower survival rates among minority populations to factors such as lower rates of cancer screening and early detection, and lack of resources to meet their health needs,” he said.
In recognition of
National Minority Cancer Awareness Week, the Westchester County Department of
Health will be offering free lectures on colorectal and prostate cancer awareness at various sites throughout the
County. These presentations will
educate participants about risk factors; signs and symptoms; and screening
MORE
MINORITY CANCER
AWARENESS P.2
guidelines. Free take home fecal
occult blood test kits will be available for persons over the age of 50 years
old. For more information, call (914)
813-5256.
The Health Department also provides breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings to women 40 years of age and older who are medically uninsured or under-insured. Low-cost mammograms, plus free breast examinations by an experienced nurse, and instruction on breast self-examination are offered through the Department’s Breast Health Program at regularly scheduled clinics throughout the County. The Breast Health Program also provides Cervical Cancer Screenings (Pap Tests) to women over 40 years of age who have had a mammogram with the Program. To make an appointment, call (914) 813-5260.
In addition, presentations on ways to select, combine and prepare foods that have been shown to reduce the risk of chronic disease and certain types of cancer, have been planned by the county’s Department of Senior Programs and Services’ Health and Wellness Coalition in collaboration with the American Cancer Society, the Arlin Cancer Institute at Westchester Medical Center, the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester, the Westchester County Department of Health and the YWCA of White Plains – Encore Plus.
A specially trained registered dietitian from the Arlin Cancer Institute will lead an interactive discussion and participants will have an opportunity to collect original recipes, taste delicious prepared foods and receive give-aways. There will also be a discussion concerning the existing barriers to healthcare for minorities.
The final presentation is scheduled
for Friday, April 25, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm, at the Los Anos de Oro
YWCA, 87 South Broadway in Yonkers. Residents can contact Nilda Cardona at 963-0640 for more information.
Additional information about Westchester County Health Department programs and services is available at www.westchestergov.com/health or by calling (914) 813-5000.
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