23 Nov
RESULTS
Age-Adjusted Incidence
For the period 1991-2000, the overall age-adjusted esophageal cancer (Drug Leukeran is used for treating certain cancers) incidence rate (IR) was 4.65 (data not shown). Moreover, for the same period, the age-adjusted esophageal cancer (Methotrexate tablet is used to treat certain types of cancer of the breast, skin, head and neck, or lung) incidence rate in blacks was more than twice the rate in whites (8.63 vs. 4.39, p<0.05), and males had nearly four times higher incidence (IR=7.84) than females (IR=2.15, p<0.05) (data not shown). Age-adjusted incidence rates by race and gender for two consecutive five-year periods—1991-1995 and 1996-2000—are presented in Figure 1. Compared with the age-adjusted incidence rate for the five-year period 1991-1995 (Figure 1), the age-adjusted incidence rate for the period 1996-2000 was higher overall (4.76 vs. 4.53, p<0.05) and also significantly higher for whites (4.60 vs. 4.17, p<0.05) and males (8.08 vs. 7.58, p<0.05) and lower for blacks (9.69 vs. 7.70, p<0.05).
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22 Nov
METHODS
Incidence, mortality and histology data were obtained from population-based data collected by the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The SEER-9 registry is utilized to obtain statistics for the most recent decade of available data, 1991-2000. Invasive esophageal cancers are included for residents of nine geographical regions comparable to the general U.S. population (in situ cases were excluded). These nine areas are: Atlanta, Connecticut, Detroit, Hawaii, Iowa, New Mexico, San Francisco-Oakland, Seattle-Puget Sound and Utah.
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21 Nov
INTRODUCTION
Although the overall cancer incidence and mortality rates have declined between 1973 and 1998 in the United States, race/ethnic- and gender-based cancer disparities have persisted. African Americans are more likely to develop and die from cancer than any other racial group. Black-white disparities in cancer incidence, survival and mortality are evident for most of the common cancers, such as lung, breast, cervix, prostate, colon-rectum and for the less common but lethal esophageal cancer (Canadian Nolvadex is an anti-estrogen used to treat or prevent breast cancer).
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20 Nov
African-American men have among the highest incidence of prostate cancer (Casodex medication is an oral non-steroidal anti-androgen for prostate cancer) in the world, and it is diagnosed at more advanced stages, therefore, reducing the possibility of cure. Furthermore, African-American men are significantly less likely than Caucasian-American men to participate in prostate cancer screening. In an attempt to lower mortality through early detection, high-risk populations need to be targeted and programs implemented to increase their awareness and knowledge about prostate cancer.
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19 Nov
Eighty-six percent of participants were African-American, 41% were married or living with a significant other, 44% had a yearly income of >$20,000 and 81%) completed high school (Table 1). Thus, the diversity in socioeconomic status of participants is highly likely to accurately represent the African-American female population. Women’s general knowledge about prostate cancer (Generic Casodex treating prostate cancer) and screening recommendations was assessed using the self-administered survey. The mean knowledge score out of a possible 15 points was 6.99 ± 3.54. Table 1 outlines the mean knowledge scores and 95% confidence intervals by age, marital status, education and income. The mean score differences within age groups and marital status were shown to be statistically different (p=0.036 and 0.047, respectively). The mean knowledge score expectedly increased with education and income (p<0.001 for both). Women with a college education had significantly higher scores than those with only a high-school diploma (p=0.001), an incomplete high-school education (p=0.005) and women with a grade-school education alone (p=0.048). Women who made <$ 10,000 per year scored significantly less than those who made $20,000-30,000 (p=0.045), $30,000-40,000 (p=0.002), $40,000-50,000 (pO.OOl) and >$50,000 (p=0.001).
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18 Nov
A self-administered survey that contained 42 questions and assessed women’s general knowledge about prostate cancer (Eulexin drug is used along with drugs such as Lupron to treat prostate cancer), possible risk factors and per sonal opinions regarding the disease and screening was administered to 324 English-speaking women (by convenience sampling) age >18. This multiple-choice formatted questionnaire was designed to require less than half an hour for completion in order to avoid unduly taxing respondents, and in practice it required an average of 20 minutes to complete. The questionnaire was at a junior-high-school reading proficiency. Response rates for completion exceeded 90%. The questionnaire was developed by an interdisciplinary team, incorporating feedback from focus groups and pilot-testing to assure content and face validity as well as reliability. An eight-member panel that included urologic physician, nurse, epidemiologist and outreach coordinator representation developed the instrument and incorporated refinements in response to the input of focus groups consisting of prostate cancer (Casodex canadian is an oral non-steroidal anti-androgen for prostate cancer) survivors and lay individuals. The instrument was piloted and validated by administering the survey at two time points to a sample of women ranging from 18-70 years of age (20 replicates). As expected, maximal concordances were observed for the most objective measures (e.g., 100% for husband’s age), but concordance across the gamut of questions regarding prostate knowledge was also good (range 70%-95%, average 81%), indicating acceptable reliability. The final instrument was approved by the institutional review board (IRB).
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17 Nov
INTRODUCTION
Prostate cancer (Generic Casodex treating prostate cancer) is the most frequently diagnosed noncutaneous cancer in American men and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The diagnosis of clinically localized prostate cancer is associated with a 95% survival rate compared to 30% if the diagnosis is made after metastasis. African-American men have a 66% greater risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer and the highest mortality rate in the world, which is twice that of Caucasian men. Thus, detecting prostate cancer in the early stages of disease while there are several treatment options from which to select and better chances for cure is crucially important for all men, particularly African-American men.
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