An astonishing 96 percent of African American women do not consider themselves to be at high risk of colorectal cancer, despite having the greatest risk of any gender, race or ethnicity of developing and dying from the disease, according to a new Harris survey.
As a result of this misperception, 70 percent of African American women still do not heed the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) guidelines for African Americans to begin colorectal cancer screenings at age 45.
According to the survey, only 6 percent of African American women over 45 discussed colorectal cancer when they last saw their doctor because they didn't think they were at particular risk (27 percent), their doctor didn't bring it up (15 percent), or they didn't think there was a reason to (16 percent).
In an effort to increase awareness, the Black Women's Health Imperative and the National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) have launched an educational initiative that confronts the issues preventing African American women from getting screened and seeking treatment.
"Colorectal cancer is not color blind and it has a penchant for African American women," said Lorraine Cole, CEO of the Imperative.
"Our mission is to let every African American woman in this country know why it's so critical for them to get screened early. We're also giving them tools to help them take action against this deadly but beatable disease," added Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, RN, executive director, NWHRC.
If colorectal cancer is detected while still in the localized stage, the five-year survival rate in all African Americans is 83 percent.
"Getting beyond our own fear and learning the facts can go a long way in improving our survival and quality of life," said Edith Mitchell, clinical professor of medicine and program leader in gastrointestinal oncology, Thomas Jefferson University. "Colorectal cancer is not a death sentence, so don't let that stop you from asking your healthcare provider about screening and, if colon cancer is found, treatment. Colorectal cancer is not only treatable but beatable."
