Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Breast cancer screening rates drop in low-income communities

8% decline from July 2019-2020 reverses an 18% improvement between July 2018-2019.

A new study finds breast cancer screening rates (BCSR) declined among women aged 50 to 74 years at 32 community health centers that serve lower-income populations during the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.

The report, appearing in the journal, CANCER, suggests that breast cancer screening rates within community clinics in low-income communities declined by 8% from July 2019-2020, reversing an 18% improvement between July 2018-2019.

This is one of the first studies to examine BCSRs among lower-income populations during the pandemic. Investigators led by Stacey Fedewa, PhD, scientific director, Surveillance & Research (pictured here), examined BCSRs among 32 community health centers that provide healthcare services to communities of color and lower income populations and received grant funding from ACS to improve their BCSRs.

“This study is important because these populations have long-standing barriers to accessing care, lower breast screening rates, higher breast cancer mortality rates, and are especially vulnerable to healthcare disruptions,” said Dr. Fedewa.

Findings show that if 2018 to 2019 BCSR trends continued through 2020, 63.3% of women would have been screened for breast cancer in 2020 compared to the 49.6% of women that did get screened. This data translates to potentially 47,517 fewer mammograms and 242 missed breast cancer diagnoses.

It is not yet known how negative outcomes will be distributed, and if breast cancer mortality disparities will widen. It is also not known how breast cancer screening services fared in community health centers nationwide as the clinics included in this study were part of an ACS grant-funded by the National Football League to improve breast cancer screening rates. Authors note that it’s possible that interventions established before and continued through 2020 may have mitigated the pandemic’s effects on breast cancer screening services.

“Declining breast cancer screening rates in clinics serving communities with lower-incomes that already have barriers to accessing healthcare and have higher breast cancer mortality rates means there is a need for additional policies to support and resources to identify women in need of screening,” said the authors. “These actions will be critical as communities and clinics return to screening with hopes of reaching pre-pandemic breast cancer screening rates in the communities they serve.”

*Shared from MySocietySource.

Monday, August 30, 2021

National Voter Registration Day

 

In California, the deadline to register to vote for any election is 15 days before Election Day, so please register early! For the September 14, 2021 election, your registration must be postmarked or submitted electronically no later than August 30, 2021. Register today online at www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration

Thursday, August 26, 2021

International Dog Day

 

Many people love their non-human friends because they offer companionship. Our pets can also increase our opportunities for outdoor exercise. Learn more about the health benefits of owning pets at cancer.org.

Monday, August 23, 2021

Cancer death rates continue to drop, but the news is not all good

Overall incidence rates continue to increase in women, children, and adolescents and young adults.

Overall cancer death rates continue to decline in men and women for all racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., according to the latest Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer published on July 8.

During 2001 to 2018, declines in lung cancer death rates accelerated, and death rates for melanoma declined considerably in more recent years, reflecting a substantial increase in survival for metastatic melanoma. However, the report finds that for several other major cancers, including prostate, colorectal, and female breast cancers, previous declining trends in death rates slowed or disappeared. 

The report published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute also finds that overall cancer incidence rates continue to increase among females, children, and adolescents and young adults (AYA). All trends in this report cover the period before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual report is a collaborative effort among the American Cancer Society (ACS); the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH); and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR).  

The report shows a decrease in death rates for 11 of the 19 most common cancers among men, and for 14 of the 20 most common cancers among women, over the most recent period (2014-2018). Although declining trends in death rates accelerated for lung cancer and melanoma over this period, previous declining trends for colorectal and female breast cancer death rates slowed, and those for prostate cancer leveled off. Death rates increased for brain and other nervous system cancers, as well as pancreas cancer, in both sexes; oral cavity and pharynx in males, and liver and uterus in females.

“The declines in lung cancer and melanoma death rates are the result of progress across the entire cancer continuum - from reduced smoking rates to prevent cancer to discoveries such as targeted drug therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors,” said ACS CEO Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, PhD. “While we celebrate the progress, we must remain committed to research, patient support, and advocacy to make even greater progress to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families.”

An analysis of long-term trends in cancer death rates in this year’s report also shows that death rate declines accelerated in both males and females from 2001 to 2018. In males, a decline of 1.8% per year in 2001 to 2015 accelerated to a decline of 2.3% per year during 2015 to 2018. In females, a decline of 1.4% per year from 2001 to 2015 accelerated to a decline of 2.1% per year during 2015 to 2018. The report found that overall cancer death rates decreased in every racial and ethnic group during 2014 to 2018.

“It is encouraging to see a continued decline in death rates for many of the common cancers,” said Karen Hacker, MD, MPH, director of CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. “To dismantle existing health disparities and give everyone the opportunity to be as healthy as possible, we must continue to find innovative ways to reach people across the cancer care continuum—from screening and early detection to treatment and support for survivors.”

However, increases in cancer incidence and death rates or deceleration of previous declining trends for some other cancers such as colorectal and female breast cancers are likely due to risk factors such as obesity.   

“The continued decline in cancer death rates should be gratifying to the cancer research community, as evidence that scientific advances over several decades are making a real difference in outcomes at the population level,” said Norman E. “Ned” Sharpless, MD, director of the National Cancer Institute, of the National Institutes of Health. “I believe we could achieve even further improvements if we address obesity, which has the potential to overtake tobacco use to become the leading modifiable factor associated with cancer.” 

The authors report that cancer death rates continued to decrease among children (aged <15 years) and AYAs (aged 15-39 years) despite an increase in incidence rates from 2001 to 2017. Overall cancer incidence rates in children and AYA increased in all racial/ethnic groups except American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children, where rates remained stable. The most common cancer among AYA was female breast cancer. 

“When evaluating health disparities, it is critical to acknowledge the social factors that influence the health of the communities and access to health care,” said Betsy A. Kohler, MPH, NAACCR executive director. “Social and economic indicators, particularly based on small area assessments, are increasingly important to understanding the burden of cancer.”

Other key findings include:  

  • Overall cancer incidence rates were higher among men than women in every racial and ethnic group, except Asian/Pacific Islander population, where the rates were similar. 
  • Overall cancer incidence rates were slightly lower among Black people than White people. 
  • In contrast, overall cancer death rates were higher among Black people than White people.  
  • Incidence rates of liver cancer were previously increasing, but data show rates have stabilized among both men and women. 
  • Two-year relative survival for advanced-stage melanoma cases diagnosed during 2001-2009 was stable, but it increased 3.1% per year for those diagnosed during 2009-2014.
  • Two-year relative survival only slightly increased for early- and intermediate-stage melanoma cases diagnosed during 2001-2014 (0.03% and 0.4% per year, respectively).

The authors indicate these findings can help inform healthcare providers about the need to increase efforts related to cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment, and for the need for equitable implementation of effective interventions, especially among under-resourced populations.

*Shared from MySocietySource.

Sunday, August 22, 2021

Online Auction ends tonight

The San Francisco Bay Area Market Online Auction ends today (Sunday, August 22nd) at 6:00pm PT. Before it's too late, bid on a variety of great time and experiences all benefiting the American Cancer Society. There are still a handful of items without a bid a great deals to be had!

Campus Runs The World Starts Today! Register Now!

It's time to lace up your sneakers and get ready to join ACS On Campus as we run across the world from Aug. 22nd to Sept 5th. You’ll be pushing yourself to help save lives from cancer while competing against campuses across the country! The money you raise will benefit the American Cancer Society (and even your Relay For Life page if you participate in an event at a later date) and give you the chance to win prizes. You can invite your friends and family too!

Campus Runs The World is a two week long event to collectively log 24,901 miles (or one lap around the world!) and fundraise to support the mission of the American Cancer Society along the way! We know that Relay isn’t a run, but this actually is!! Join campus Relayers across the country in an attempt to virtually run/walk/hike around the world by logging miles, connecting with teammates, and fundraising for the American Cancer Society. You can even bring your four-legged friends too!



Event Details:

  • What: Run, Walk, Hike with fellow volunteers to log 24,901 miles and fundraise!
  • When: August 22nd to Sept 5th
  • Where: Wherever you are! Get out and get active by running, walking to hiking and log miles wherever you are currently located
  • Why: This is a fun way to support and fundraise for the American Cancer Society and you can do it anywhere!

Sign up today and join the movement as Campus Runs The World by creating a team for you and your friends, or join a team and meet campus volunteers across the country!




Tuesday, August 17, 2021

National Nonprofit Day

 

The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Our Global Headquarters are located in Atlanta, Georgia, and we have regional and local offices throughout the country to ensure we have a presence in every community. Learn more about who we are, what we do, and our plans for the future by exploring the areas below.


National Thriftshop Day

Discovery Shop locations aren’t your typical thrift or resale shops. High quality, gently-used, and new merchandise, including collectible and vintage items, are donated by the community then curated and sold in our upscale stores. Purchases, donations of goods, and volunteers help the American Cancer Society make the biggest impact on cancer ever. Discover the difference by visiting your nearest shop!

Monday, August 16, 2021

National Roller Coaster Day

 

On National Roller Coaster Day we want to thank California's Great America for partnering with the American Cancer Society to make Courageous Kids Day possible. Courageous Kids Day is a free event providing up to 600 families who have a child with cancer “a day away from cancer.” This extra-special day allows courageous kids and their families time to forget some of the stress of cancer and have fun together with amusement rides, a picnic lunch, arts & crafts, family portraits, and more special activities. 


Sunday, August 15, 2021

Relaxation Day

 

Cancer and its treatment can be stressful - for the survivor and caregivers. Practicing mindfulness and relaxation can help calm your mind, reduce stress, and sharpen your ability to focus. Mindfulness and relaxation are ways you can reduce stress and feel more peaceful. Learn more at cancer.org.

Thursday, August 12, 2021

International Youth Day

 

The American Cancer Society On Campus movement engages students and student bodies across the country at all levels and types of education to increase cancer awareness, support survivors and caregivers, raise money to fund cancer research and patient services, and advocate for policy change. Whether you are an elementary school, high school sports team, or just a few college friends wanting to make an impact on the world, American Cancer Society On Campus is the perfect place to begin.

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Monday, August 9, 2021

Book Lovers Day

 

The American Cancer Society publishes books to help people navigate the cancer experience. Since 2006, these books have won over 100 awards for content and design excellence. Shop the bookstore now at cancer.org.

World Indigenous Peoples Day

 

For the American Cancer Society and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, health equity means everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer. Learn how ACS is focusing cancer disparities in the Indigenous Community at cancer.org.

Sunday, August 8, 2021

International Cat Day

 


Most healthy inside cats are safe for cancer patients and can be an important source of emotional support while they receive treatment. Learn more at cancer.org.

Sunday, August 1, 2021

National Immunization Awareness Month

 

Find out what you can do to help decrease your chances of getting HPV and the different types of cancer linked to it. Get answers to common questions about the HPV vaccines available today at cancer.org.