AG 1995 04 17 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Statement of Need Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men in the United States. North Carolina has the nation's highest mortality for prostate cancer among black males. This increase in mortality can be explained in part by the higher proportion of black males in our state, compared to other states. A large portion of North Carolina's black males live in rural areas with limited access to medical care. A key factor in the survival rate for prostate cancer is' early diagnosis. Black males tend not to receive adequate tests for cancer screening. Consequently, when cancer is detected, it is further advanced. During the five years from 1987-1991 the death rate from prostate cancer for black males in Cabarrus County was nearly three times that of whites. During the same five year period the total Years of Life Lost prematurely (YLL before life expectancy has been achieved/per 100,000 population) due to prostate cancer is staggering when the two races are compared: 658.1 for blacks vs. 230.0 for whites. Men with a family history of this cancer are at an even greater risk. The North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics predicts that during 1995 there will be 65 cases of prostate cancer identified in Cabarrus County. Of those, 15 will die. The Cabarrus County Health Department recognizes the need for more early detection efforts in Cabarrus County through additional prostate cancer screening among minority and high risk males. Purpose and Objectives The purpose of this project is to pilot a 12 month prostate cancer screening program. The objectives of this program will be met through three main components: Community Coalition, Education and Outreach, and Cancer Screening. A community coalition is needed to involve members of the target group in the campaign for increasing cancer awareness and education. The coalition will also provide a vital link to addressing cultural barriers related to cancer screening. Targeted communications will be criti- cal to the success of the program. The objective of the coalition will be to identify cultural barriers and recommend specific avenues to reach the target population. Development of the coalition is the first phase of the project. Education and Outreach is critical to the success of the project. Participation in the screening relies heavily on increasing the awareness of prostate cancer screening among the tar- geted population and in the general community as well. How this phase of the project is imple- mented will depend greatly on the recommendations of the coalition. Resources such as educa- tional materials, mass media campaigns, and involvement from local medical professionals and community leaders are anticipated during this time. After it is initiated, this phase of the project will continue between cancer screenings through the completion of the project. Cancer Screening is the final outcome of this pilot. The object of the screening is to provide prostate cancer screenings to at least 100 high risk males during the 12 months following the acceptance of the grant. This will be accomplished through quarterly screenings beginning in the fall of 1995. The first screening will be held in a timely manner with Cabarrus Memorial Hospital's annual community prostate cancer screening. The hospital screening attracts prima- rily white males most of whom are elderly. Providing the two screenings in a relative time frame will provide an alternative screening for patients in need of prostate screening. All screenings will be a cooperative effort between Cabarrus County Health Department and Dr. Hector Henry and other physicians from the Cabarrus Urology Clinic.