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Comprehensive Cancer Centers honors World Cancer Day on February 4th by sharing details about care gaps in cancer, along with tips on how people can help close them.

The theme for World Cancer Day on February 4 is Closing the Care Gap in Cancer Care. The efforts of the day are working to address the care gap that is a reality for people all over the world. While some challenges are not ones faced by people living in Southern Nevada, some are impacting those in our community. As with helping drive positive change all over the world, we can all help power change right in our own backyards.

A good way to get started is by learning about what’s happening with Care Gaps, and how they impact people everywhere, perhaps even you or a friend or loved one. Some of these facts include:

  • For white women in the US, the five-year survival rate for cervical cancer is 71%. For black women, the rate is just 58%.
  • Childhood cancer survival rates are over 80% in high-income countries but as low as 20% in low-income countries.
  • Cancer kills nearly 10 million people a year and some 70% of those are aged 65 or older, yet older populations face disproportionate barriers to effective treatment.
  • In refugee populations, cancer is more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to worse outcomes.
  • Due in part to discrimination from healthcare practitioners, cancer screening among transgender people is lower than in the rest of the population.
  • There are notable differences in cancer-related outcomes for rural and nonrural patients, even in high-income settings such as the US.

The cancer care gap is not inevitable, either globally or here in our community. Our systems can be reimagined, a person’s situation can be improved, their knowledge about cancer can be increased and their access to services made easier, and much of it can be addressed by people just like you.

How You Can Work to Address Care Gaps
No one has the power to make all the changes needed to ensure equal access to healthcare for those all over the world, including right here in Southern Nevada. We are not without power; however, with everyone able to use their voice to ask for change, in particular from our elected officials. We can all help power simple changes, too, by doing small things like encouraging those we know in minority groups to get screened.

Here are some strategies to promote cancer screenings in underrepresented groups, as outlined by the organizers of World Cancer Day:

Culturally Tailored Outreach: Develop culturally sensitive and targeted outreach materials that resonate with the specific ethnic or cultural groups. Use language, images, and messaging that reflect the diversity within minority communities. Collaborate with community leaders and local influencers to help disseminate information and encourage participation in screening programs. This can include people from different backgrounds that attend the same places of worship as you.

Community Education Programs: Organize community-based education programs to raise awareness about the importance of cancer screenings. Provide information about the types of screenings available, their benefits, and the importance of early detection. Offer educational sessions in community centers, places of worship, and other culturally significant locations.

Language Access: Ensure that information about cancer screenings is available in multiple languages, especially in communities with diverse language preferences. This includes printed materials, online resources, and verbal communication during outreach efforts.

Access to Affordable Healthcare: Advocate for policies that improve access to affordable healthcare, including preventive services such as cancer screenings. Addressing financial barriers can encourage individuals to seek screenings without concerns about the cost. Promote health insurance enrollment and awareness of available assistance programs.

Mobile Clinics and Outreach Services: Encourage your healthcare provides to bring screening services directly to communities through mobile clinics or outreach programs. This can increase accessibility for individuals who face transportation or logistical challenges. Collaborate with local health departments and non-profit organizations to organize mobile screening events in under-served areas.

Personalized Communication: Use targeted and personalized communication strategies to engage individuals. This may involve highlighting the relevance of screenings based on age, family history, and other risk factors. Share stories of individuals from similar backgrounds who have benefited from early cancer detection through screenings.

Peer Support and Navigators: Recruit and train peer educators or navigators from within the community to provide support and guidance. Peer support can help build trust and overcome cultural or mistrust barriers. Create networks of support where individuals can share their experiences and encourage others to prioritize screenings.

Collaboration with Healthcare Providers: Foster collaboration between healthcare providers and community organizations to create a seamless pathway for screenings. This includes establishing referral systems, conducting joint awareness campaigns, and addressing specific healthcare concerns within minority populations.

By implementing a combination of these strategies and engaging with the community, healthcare providers and public health organizations can work to increase awareness and uptake of cancer screenings among minorities. It’s essential to approach these efforts with cultural humility and a genuine understanding of the unique needs and challenges faced by diverse communities. These are steps all of us can take to make a difference on World Cancer Day and beyond. Even helping a little can make a big difference to increasing the impact of World Cancer Day. If you cannot help on your own, post some of these resources on your favorite social media channels and see who else might want to team up with you. It takes everyone to make a difference.

Comprehensive Cancer Centers Can Help
Physicians at Comprehensive Cancer Centers provide a variety of treatment options for cancer including chemotherapy and clinical research, if applicable. To schedule an appointment with the team at Comprehensive, please call 702-952-3350.

The content is this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

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