CANCER

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the U.S. African Americans/Blacks have the highest death rate and shortest survival rate of any racial and ethnic group for most cancers.

According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2018, an estimated 1,735,350 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and 609,640 people will die from the disease. African Americans/Blacks have the highest death rate and shortest survival rate of any racial and ethnic group for most cancers, contributing in part to a lower life expectancy for both African American men and African American women.

AAHP offers health and nutrition education, counseling and support services that help prevent cancer. Our diabetes/heart health classes stress that exercising, eating nutritious foods, and not smoking can not only prevent and manage diabetes and heart disease, but many cancers as well. We provide health screenings for health conditions that may be linked to cancer and we make referrals for health screenings like mammograms and prostate cancer exams. We also participate and host events throughout Montgomery County that promote living a healthy lifestyle and provide health information which lead to cancer prevention such as walks, health fairs and presentations.

Ask your healthcare professional about the following cancer screenings:
  • Colonoscopy (men and women)
  • Digital Rectal Exam (men)
  • Mammogram (women)
  • Prostate Specific Antigen Test (men)
  • Pap Test/Smear (women)
  • Pelvic Exam (women)
  • Oral and Skin Exams (men and women)
The National Cancer Institute provides the following prevention guidelines:
  • Do not use tobacco products. Tobacco causes cancer. In fact, smoking tobacco, using smokeless tobacco, and passive smoking (regularly breathing other people’s tobacco smoke) cause a third of all cancer deaths in the United States each year.
  • Avoid sunburns. Too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and from other sources—such as sunlamps and tanning booths—can damage your skin and cause skin cancer.
  • Eat right. Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Also cut down on fatty foods and eat plenty of fiber.
  • Stay active. Studies show that exercise can help lower your chance of getting breast and colon cancer and perhaps other cancers, too.
  • If you drink alcohol, do not have more than 1 or 2 drinks a day. Drinking large amounts of alcohol raises the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and larynx. People who smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol have an especially high risk of getting these cancers.
  • Follow work and safety rules to avoid dangerous contact with materials that cause cancer. Talk with your boss or building manager about any concerns you have about your work environment and if you think you come in contact with dangerous materials.
The video below shows information on breast cancer, how African American women are impacted by breast cancer, and strategies for cancer in general and breast cancer in particular:

"As a young man, cancer was rarely more than a passing thought to me. Occasionally a friend, co-worker or relative would be diagnosed, but otherwise the disease seemed far away-until a routine screening changed everything. Thankfully, my doctor caught my cancer at an early stage. Together, we selected the best form of treatment, and today I'm living proof of the value of testing. When it comes to cancer, a few minutes of your time can make all the difference in the world."

- a client

The African American Health Program is funded and administered by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and implemented by McFarland & Associates, Inc.
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