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Family history
influences African-Americans' Cancer
Screening
Newswise — A new study
indicates that African Americans with a
family history of colorectal cancer are less
likely to be screened than African Americans
at average risk for the disease.
There is also some evidence
to indicate that African Americans with a
family history are less likely to be
screened than their white counterparts.
The study is published in the
July 15, 2008 issue of CANCER, a
peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer
Society.
African Americans have the highest
colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and death
rates of all racial groups in the United
States.
The reason for this is
thought to be multifactorial but remains
poorly understood. Overall, African
Americans have low rates of colorectal
cancer screening compared to most other
racial groups.
Early detection is especially
important for those with family histories of
CRC who are at higher risk of developing the
disease.
Factors associated with CRC
screening are not well understood for
African Americans, both those with and
without family histories of CRC.
To investigate the factors
associated with risk-appropriate CRC
screening, Kathleen Griffith, Ph.D., CRNP,
of the Johns Hopkins University School of
Nursing and colleagues at the University of
Maryland Baltimore analyzed data from the
2002 Maryland Cancer Survey, a telephone
survey of more than 5,000 Maryland
residents, performed under the Maryland
Cigarette Restitution Fund Program to
identify predictors of screening among
African Americans.
The researchers’ analyses revealed that for
African Americans, regardless of family
history, a health care provider’s
recommendation for colorectal cancer
screening was strongly correlated with a
higher likelihood of screening.
Furthermore, individuals who
were more physically active were also more
likely to have been screened for colorectal
cancer. Surprisingly, though, having a
family history of colorectal cancer did not
predict a higher likelihood of screening.
In fact, the researchers
found that African Americans with a family
history were less likely to have received
risk-appropriate screening than those
without a family history.
Family history of colorectal
cancer is often associated with increased
rates of screening in whites.
The authors say it is difficult to explain
why a perception of increased risk, which is
significantly higher in African Americans
with a family history of CRC than in those
without, did not translate into screening.
Their findings suggest that other unknown or
unmeasured factors may play a role is
screening decisions.
Additional studies to
determine what those factors might be could
lead to culturally tailored interventions
designed to increase screening rates, which
in turn could ultimately improve early
detection and reduce colorectal cancer
deaths in African Americans.
“This study suggests that
African Americans would benefit from a
primary care approach that evaluates their
risk factors for colorectal cancer, and
provides corresponding recommendations for
appropriate screening tests,” the authors
write.
Regular colorectal cancer screening is one
of the most powerful weapons in preventing
colorectal cancer. It can, in many cases,
prevent colorectal cancer altogether.
Experts estimate adherence to
national screening guidelines could prevent
up to eight in ten deaths from the disease.
The American Cancer Society
recommends that people at average risk begin
screening for colorectal cancer at age 50.
Colorectal cancer is the
third most common cancer diagnosed in both
men and women in the United States, as well
as the third leading cause of cancer-related
death among both men and women in the United
States.
Article: “Influence of Family History and
Preventive Health Behaviors on Colorectal
Cancer Screening in African Americans.”
Kathleen A. Griffith, Deborah B. McGuire,
Renee Royak-Schaler, Keith O. Plowden, and
Eileen K. Steinberger. CANCER;
Published Online: June 9, 2008 (DOI:
10.1002/cncr.23550); Print Issue Date: July
15, 2008.
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