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Health conditions common in
African-American women:

Asthma Breast cancer Cancer Cervical cancer Diabetes Glaucoma and cataracts Heart disease High blood pressure High cholesterol HIV/AIDS Infant death Kidney disease Lupus Mental health problems and suicide Osteoporosis Overweight and obesity Pregnancy-related death Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Sickle cell anemia Smoking Stroke Tuberculosis (TB) Uterine fibroids Violence

Cancer

• More information on cancer

Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow, divide, and spread. In most cancers, these abnormal cells form a mass called a tumor. (Not all tumors are cancer.) Cancers found in the blood or immune system do not form tumors. Most cancers are named for where they start. For example, lung cancer starts in the lung, and breast cancer starts in the breast. But cancers can spread. They can invade nearby tissues and organs. Or, they can break away and spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms and treatment depend on the cancer type and how advanced it is.

A number of factors can affect a woman's cancer risk. Some factors, such as getting older and family history, cannot be controlled. Yet, you can lower your risk of some cancers by changing some aspects of your life:

• Don't smoke. If you smoke, try to quit. For help along the way, check out our Quitting Smoking section.
• Keep a healthy weight.
• Eat healthy foods. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Make physical activity a habit. Health benefits are gained by doing the following each week:
  • 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity
    or
    
  • 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity
    or
    
  • A combination of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity
    and
    
  • Muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days of the week
• Limit alcohol to no more than one drink per day.

Women also can protect themselves from cancer by getting regular checkups and screenings. Screening tests can help find cancers such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and cervical cancer. This way, if cancer develops, it is likely to be found early. Treatment often works best when cancer is found early.

Many African-American women don't get routine screening tests. This may be one of the reasons why African-Americans are more likely to die from cancer than white people. Other reasons may be no access, no ability to pay for health care, or lack of trust in the medical system. Or, it could be that more aggressive forms of some cancers are more common in African-Americans. We don't always know why one person develops cancer and another does not. Yet with a healthy lifestyle and routine screening, you will feel good knowing you are doing what you can to lower your cancer risk.

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More information on cancer

Read more from womenshealth.gov

• Ovarian Cancer Fact Sheet — This fact sheet explains what ovarian cancer is, why you should be concerned about it, and where you can get more information.
  http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/ovarian-cancer.cfm

Explore other publications and websites

• Cancer Facts and Figures for African Americans 2009-2010 (Copyright © American Cancer Society) — This publication presents the most recent statistics on the rate of cancer diagnosis, survival, and deaths in African-Americans. It also includes sections on cancer risk factors such as tobacco use and lack of physical activity, as well as the use of cancer screening examinations.
  http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@nho/documents/document/cffaa20092010pdf.pdf
• Colorectal Cancer: Let's Break the Silence — Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Many of these deaths can be prevented by screening and early detection. This brochure emphasizes the importance of colorectal cancer screening and explains medical terms patients might hear when talking about colorectal cancer with their doctors.
  http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/pdf/CCSilencebrochure.pdf
• Inside Knowledge Campaign: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer — This site is designed to spread awareness to women about the different types of gynecological cancers. With early detection, treatments for gynecological cancers are very effective.
  http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/knowledge/
• Reducing Health Disparities in Cancer — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has created a number of strategies to help decrease the amount of inequalities seen among minorities. This brief fact sheet describes these efforts.
  http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/healthdisparities/basic_info/disparities.htm
• What You Need To Know About Cancer of the Uterus — This booklet on uterine cancer discusses possible causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, emotional issues, and questions to ask the doctor. It also includes a glossary of terms and additional resources for more information.
  http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/uterus/page1
• What You Need To Know About Lung Cancer — The diagnosis of lung cancer brings with it many questions and a need for clear answers. This booklet provides an overview of lung cancer, including its causes and risk factors. It describes the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease, and includes lists of questions to ask your doctor from diagnosis through treatment.
  http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/lung
• You Are a Survivor: Living After Cancer Treatment (Copyright © Lance Armstrong Foundation) — This is a brochure written specifically for African-American cancer survivors. It raises awareness of the physical, practical, and emotional concerns of cancer survivors; lists resources; and encourages survivors to seek support.
  http://www.livestrong.org/What-We-Do/Our-Actions/Professional-Tools-Training/For-Health-Care-Professionals/LACT-Brochure-Series

Connect with other organizations

• American Cancer Society
  http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp
• American Lung Association
  http://www.lungusa.org/
• Intercultural Cancer Council
  http://iccnetwork.org
• National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, CDC
  http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/
• National Cancer Institute, NIH
  http://www.cancer.gov/
• National Cervical Cancer Coalition
  http://www.nccc-online.org/
• Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
  http://www.ovariancancer.org/

Content last updated May 18, 2010.

Resources last updated May 18, 2010.

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