Reducing the cancer burden among African Americans - A call to arms

Since the "War on Cancer" was declared in 1971, numerous strides have been made in terms of cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and quality of life. However, although the nation boasts of the progress being achieved relative to cancer prevention, risk reduction, detection, treatment, and rehabilitation, the burden of cancer borne by of African Americans continues to surpass the burden borne by other racial or ethnic populations within the United States. The trends by which basic components of cancer prevention and cancer care are used among and administered to African Americans have long been recognized by our nation's scientists and clinicians. However, they can be ignored no longer. Armed with the new knowledge of what cancer is; how it develops; who is at risk; how best to screen, detect, diagnose, and treat cancer; and how to improve the quality of life of cancer patients and survivors, priority should be given to reducing the cancer burden among African Americans in the United States. The strides that have been made in the area of cancer are laudable. However, they are meaningless if they are not used aggressively to lighten the cancer burden of those who are known to carry the greatest load. Cancer 1998;83:1877-84. (C) 1998 American Cancer Society.