July Spotlight: Cancer Awareness Highlights
, by CRCHD Staff
In July, CRCHD joins the rest of the nation in supporting Sarcoma Awareness Month. Sarcoma is a rare group of malignant tumors found in soft tissue and bone, accounting for one percent of all cancer diagnoses. Although incidence is relatively low compared to other cancers, it is still more commonly found in adolescents and young adults. According to SEER data, among children under the age of 20, about five children out of every million will be diagnosed with sarcoma every year.
Visit the links below to learn more about sarcoma:
- CRCHD Spotlight on Dr. Kurt Weiss: From Osteosarcoma Survivor to Osteosarcoma Researcher
- CRCHD Spotlight on Dr. Levi Garraway and his research on potential treatment targets for soft tissue sarcoma
Among other cancers where incidence is significantly lower than more common cancers (but its impact on patients' lives equally as deadly) are head and neck cancer and multiple myeloma, to name a couple. For example, African Americans experience an 18% higher mortality rate from head and neck cancer compared to the general U.S. population. There are also significant disparities among the death rate of African Americans diagnosed with laryngeal cancer (twice that of non-Hispanic Whites) and the 5-year survival rate of African Americans with oral cavity cancer (18% compared to the general U.S. population's rate of 63%).
Visit the links below to learn more:
- CRCHD Spotlight on R21 grantee Dr. Joseph Agyin who is studying proteasome inhibitors to cure multiple myeloma
- Head and Neck Cancer
- Multiple Myeloma
Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in adolescents and young adults (AYA). The incidence of specific cancer types varies in this group, but half of childhood cancer diagnoses are leukemias and cancers of the brain and central nervous system. African American children have the lowest 5-year survival rates compared to all other population groups.
Visit the links below to learn more: