If you are developing articles or promotional materials regarding Minority Cancer Awareness Week, you may want to consider including the following ideas, whether you are writing for the general public, patients, or health care professionals. If you wish to write an article for health care professionals, and you are looking for cancer-related statistics for minorities, please refer to the Intercultural Cancer Council Cancer Fact Sheets at http://iccnetwork.org/cancerfacts.

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• The third week in April is National Minority Cancer Awareness Week.

• All of April is National Cancer Control Awareness Month.

• National Minority Cancer Awareness Week is dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of detecting cancer early among racial and ethnic minority groups.

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• Disparities exist in both mortality and incidence rates.

• Overall, African Americans are more likely to develop and die from cancer than any other racial or ethnic population.

• African Americans have a higher mortality rate than whites for each of the major cancer sites (colorectal, male lung, female breast, and prostate), as well as a higher incidence rate for all of these cancers, except female breast.

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• In order to achieve national health objectives, including the elimination of the unequal burden of cancer, it is important to improve the health status of minority populations.

• Lower rates of cancer screening and treatment are frequently due to limited access to health facilities and physicians, as well as to language and/or culture barriers.

• Eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health will require enhanced efforts to prevent disease, promote health, and deliver appropriate care to all.

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• The health disparities experienced by racial and ethnic groups must be addressed to achieve the nation’s health objectives, including the elimination of the unequal burden of cancer.

• The Michigan Cancer Consortium, the central forum for leadership in cancer control in our state, believes that all Michigan residents should have access to comprehensive cancer control services from prevention through end-of-life care.

• If you are interested in working with the public, private and voluntary organizations that comprise the Michigan Cancer Consortium, and if you are committed to reducing the human and economic impact of cancer for all Michigan residents, contact the Consortium toll-free at 877-588-MCCI or e-mail us at .