american cancer society prostate

							American Cancer Society
Prostate Cancer Activities

2007 African American Prostate Cancer
           Disparity Summit

          September 28, 2007
           Washington, D.C.
ACS Overview
   Nationwide voluntary health organization
   Over 3,400 community-based units within
    13 divisions
   Volunteer-driven, over 2 million volunteers
   Dedicated to eliminating cancer, by
    preventing cancer, saving lives, and
    diminishing suffering from cancer
ACS Priorities
   Information
       Support better decisions by making available high-quality,
        timely, understandable information
   Research
       Support innovative, high impact research through both
        direct funding and influencing the amount and direction of
        funding from other sources
   Quality of Life
       Primarily by assisting with service referral, community
        mobilization, advocacy and direct service provision
   Prevention and Early Detection
   Disparities Reduction/Elimination
   Advocacy
Man to Man Program - History
   Started by a survivor, James Mullen
   Incorporated in Florida (Man to Man, Inc.) in
    1994
   ACS entered into agreement with Man to
    Man , Inc in 1996
   ACS expanded program nationwide (1996 –
    2000)
   Program revision and enhancements (2003-
    2004)
Current Man to Man Program
Components

   One-to-One Contacts
   Man to Man Self-Help and/or Support Groups
   Community Education and Awareness
   Outreach to High Risk Groups
   Collaboration with Health Care Professionals
   Advocacy


Program implementation depends on a high level
   of Volunteer involvement and leadership
Basic Tenets of Man to Man
Groups
   Confidential
   No fees charged
   No medical advice
    Desired Program Outcomes
Increase:
    Knowledge base of survivors
    Self-efficacy in treatment decisions
    # of high risk men and newly diagnosed
     men reached by Man to Man
    Referrals to Man to Man from health care
     providers
    Screening rates (esp. among high-risk
     men)
Desired Long-Term Outcomes

   Reduced morbidity and mortality
   Improved quality of life
ACS Advocacy Efforts

   Clinical trials
   Federal appropriations
   Access to medical care
Two Important Dimensions of
Access to Care

     Adequate Health Insurance, and

     A Health Care Delivery Model with a
      Strong Emphasis on the Continuum of
      Care
  If we had universal coverage today, we still would
      have the same high rate of missed opportunities
      for prevention & early detection that are evident in
      the insured population
Delivery Model and Preventive
Care
   Regular, dedicated, preventive health encounters with
    health care professionals must become a core role of
    primary care

   Achieving ACS’ cancer prevention and early detection
    goals depends on the implementation of systems that
    support early preventive health interventions, and
    regular screening
Disparities
Reduction/Elimination

   Recently appointed first ever National Vice-President
    for Disparities

   Partnerships with minority-serving organizations,
    including National Medical Association

   Incoming Chief Medical Officer has extensive
    background in cancer disparities
Thank you