Did you know in the African-American community 95,000 men and 82,000 women are predicted to be diagnosed with cancer this year? Statistics also show that African Americans have the highest mortality rate of any racial and ethnic group for all cancers combined and for most major cancers.” When compared to Whites, African American women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer and African American men are 2.5 times more likely to die from prostate cancer.
Joycelyn L. Speight, M.D., Ph.D., DABR is a board certified Radiation Oncologist and Palliative Care specialist with Dual Board Certification in Radiation Oncology and Hospice and Palliative care. February is National Cancer Prevention Month, Is Cancer Preventable?
African-Americans suffer from a higher cancer rate than the U.S. population at large, and in certain kinds of cancer — including lung, stomach, prostate, uterine, pancreas, colon and the kidney — the difference is significant.
African-American oncologist Joycelyn Speight, M.D., is working to reduce this trend by introducing the latest in advanced cancer treatments through a public awareness campaign that targets her community.
For the last few weeks, everyone has been talking about breast cancer, everyone has been wearing pink ribbons and everyone knows of someone who has been affected by breast cancer.
Dr. Joycelyn Speight, a top cancer specialist with board certifications in Radiation Oncology and Palliative Care wants to know, are you breast cancer savvy ?
What you know about Breast Cancer can help you.
Below, Dr. Joycelyn Speight’s examines the myth vs reality:
1. MYTH: Breast cancer always comes in the form of a lump.
REALITY: Only a small percentage of breast lumps turn out to be cancer. Women should also be aware of other changes in breast tissue that may be signs of cancer. These include swelling; skin irritation or dimpling; breast or nipple pain; a nipple that turns inward; redness, scalyness, or thickening of the skin of the nipple or breast or a discharge other than breast milk. Breast cancer can also spread to underarm lymph nodes and cause swelling there before a tumor in the breast is large enough to be felt.
Last week, Michael Douglas admitted that he did not have throat cancer but instead was suffering from tongue cancer.
The award winning-actor said he lied because surgery for tongue cancer can be ‘disfiguring,’ adding that he was promoting a film at the time and didn’t want preconceived notions floating around about his cancer.
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Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Director, The Turek Clinics