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BACKGROUND:
In October 2006, the Sinai Urban Health Institute released agroundbreaking study on alarming disparities in breast cancer mortality ratesbetween African-American and white women in Chicago. The study found thatthe breast cancer mortality rate for African-American women in Chicago is 68%higher than that of white women, a disparity that cannot be explained bygenetics alone. The report dramatically illustrated that while advances inmammography screening and breast cancer treatment in Chicago have benefitedwhite women over the last 23 years, these advances have not helped reducebreast cancer mortality for African-American women. The report was a wake-upcall to the entire medical community that more needs to be done to improvebreast cancer awareness, access, screening and treatment. The findings werepublished in the October 2006 National Health Journal and the March issue ofthe Cancer Causes and Control.
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In response to the report, on March 23, 2007, an unprecedented number oflocal and national cancer experts, health care providers, public healthleaders and prominent breast cancer activists gathered to begin work onreducing the large disparity in breast cancer mortality between African-American and white women in Chicago. The historic summit marked a turningpoint in broad collaboration among leaders in the health care industry inaddressing health crises, nationally and locally. Today, 74 organizations andmore than 100 breast cancer experts make up the Metropolitan Chicago BreastCancer Task Force.
During the last two years, the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer TaskForce has held town hall meetings and released 37 recommendations foraddressing disparities in breast cancer mortality rates between African-American and white women in Chicago. Additional outreach efforts have beenconducted to improve breast health for all women in Chicago while striving toeliminate intolerable differences in breast cancer mortality rates forminority women who are losing the battle and dying at high rates - some of thehighest breast cancer mortality rates across the country.Updated Breast Cancer Mortality Data to be Released Two Chicago community-based organizations to receive grants as part of the $400,000 that will be awarded for community outreach and education efforts WHAT: The Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force Report Back to the Community
SOURCE The Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force
