Cancer Health Disparities

One of the purposes of Minorities in Cancer Research is to address the disparities in cancer incidence and mortality faced by minorities and the medically underserved. Below you will find information about the AACR and MICR's involvement in this crucial area of research.

AACR Special Conferences

Fifth Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved
October 27–30, 2012 • San Diego, CA
Chairperson: William G. Nelson

This conference was inaugurated in 2007 and was a landmark event on the path to understanding and, ultimately, eliminating the disparities in cancer that represent a major public health problem in our country. By promoting the exchange of novel ideas and information among a wide range of professionals and laity, from academia, industry, government and the community, the conference was able to harness the potential and maximize the many opportunities for bringing research on health disparities from bench to bedside or community, and back again.

AACR-MICR Distinguished Lectureship Series

The AACR-MICR Distinguished Lectureship Series (DLS) is a new MICR-organized program funded by a generous grant from the National Cancer Institute's Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities. The DLS brings together leading researchers to provide free talks at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) in order to inspire young minority students and MSI educators to pursue cancer research. Please check our website to see the latest schedule of talks.

AACR Scientific Achievement Award

The AACR Distinguished Lecture on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities, funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, recognizes an investigator whose novel and significant work has had or may have a far-reaching impact on the etiology, detection, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of cancer health disparities.

The recipient of the award receives a $5,000 honorarium and presents a 45-minute lecture at the AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved.

AACR Scientific Sessions

The AACR has demonstrated longstanding support of cancer health disparities by including this research area in its scientific sessions throughout the Association's Annual Meeting:

2010 AACR-MICR-Jane Cooke Wright Lecture, "Networks in Acción for Latino Cancer Research" by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez
2010 Poster: United States (U.S.)-Mexico border Latinas: breast cancer knowledge, attitudes, and factors associated with early detection practices
2010 Poster: Secondhand tobacco smoke in bars and restaurants in Guatemala: before and after indoor smoking ban evaluation
2010 Poster: Impact of race and health insurance on delays in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in the District of Columbia
2010 Poster: Factors contributing to health disparities among minority women: unique breast cancer experience in the Inland Empire, CA
2010 Poster: Fundamental causes of colorectal cancer outcomes
2009 AACR-MICR-Jane Cooke Wright Lecture, "A Skeptic's view of Healthcare Disparities and Healthcare Reform " by Dr. Otis W. Brawley
2009 MICR Scientific Symposium: Epigenetic Response to Stress in Determining Health Disparities
2008 MICR Scientific Symposium: Health Disparities from a Biopsychosocial Approach: Contributing Factors
2007 AACR-MICR-Jane Cooke Wright Lecture, "The Meaning of Race in Society," by Dr. Harold P. Freeman
2007 MICR Forum: Genetic Variability and Ethnicity in Cancer Treatment Outcome: Challenges and Opportunities
2006 AACR-MICR-Jane Cooke Wright Lecture, "Nature or Nurture in Breast Cancer Causation," by Dr. Olufunmilayo I. Olopade
2006 MICR Scientific Symposium: Interventions to Address Cancer Disparities

AACR Publications

The AACR publishes six highly-cited journals and a magazine, CR. Cancer health disparities has been a featured topic in articles and podcasts from these publications. See below for recent news:

CR, The Culture and Cancer of Rural Poverty, Sue Rochman
CR, Rethinking Disparities, Kevin Begos
CR, Defining Disparities, Sue Rochman
CR, Reaching out to Native Americans with Cancer, Kevin Begos

NCI-CRCHD

For more information about cancer health disparities among minority populations, visit the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD)

NCI Cancer Disparities Research: Sharing Ideas, Forging Partnerships
by Dr. Sanya A. Springfield, Director of NCI Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD)
NCI Cancer Bulletin • July 12, 2011

SPOTLIGHT

HD*Calc

The National Cancer Institute announces the launch of the Health Disparities Calculator (HD*Calc). The calculator--statistical software that generates multiple summary measures for evaluating and monitoring health disparities--can be used either as an extension of SEER*Stat, which allows users to import Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data or on its own with other population-based health data, such as from the National Health Interview Survey, California Health Interview Survey, Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey, and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The intended audience for HD*Calc includes anyone interested in health and cancer-related disparities, as well as those interested in learning about summary measures of health disparities.