$5 Million Project to Reduce
Racial Gap in Cancer Outcomes
S hows Significant Results
According to the National Cancer Institute, the death rate for all types of cancer
is 25 percent higher for African-Americans than for Caucasians. Most research to “We are thrilled with the results of the project
date has focused on identifying the disparities in health care outcomes for minority
thus far,” says Robert Chapman, M.D.,
patients; less research has focused on ways to reduce the gap.
Director of Josephine Ford Cancer Center. “We
However, researchers at Josephine Ford Cancer Center at Henry Ford Health
hope this project will lead to a new level of
System were awarded a $5.4 million grant in 2006 to study interventions
care that will not only improve outcomes for
designed to reduce disparities and, in the three years since beginning their Cancer African-American patients, but all patients.”
Prevention and Treatment Demonstration Project, have seen encouraging results.
Before beginning the study, Henry Ford researchers discovered that among their
own patients, black women were twice as likely as other women to be diagnosed
with late-stage breast cancer and black men were twice as likely to be diagnosed
with late-stage prostate cancer. As a result, they designed a study to determine if
Enrollees with and without cancer are randomized so that half are followed
offering services such as transportation, assistance with co-pays and facilitating
by their practitioners with routine appropriate care and the other half have their
cancer screenings, diagnosis and treatment could reduce the gap in cancer death
care facilitated by the demonstration project team at Henry Ford to ensure all
rates among African-Americans.
appropriate recommendations are addressed.
In the three years since the project was implemented, Henry Ford has recruited
Patients at risk for breast, prostate, cervical and colorectal cancer are being
3,800 African-American participants for the project. The results have been
targeted to see if coordinating care through facilitation of screening services,
significant, including:
follow-up of abnormal findings and diagnosis and improved access to and follow-
s&ACILITASTCIRNEGENIFNOGRPSARTICIPRAENSTUSLTIINNGCANCERS
up of treatment can reduce disparities in outcomes for African-American cancer
being diagnosed
patients. It is expected that patients who are followed may also benefit from
s-AMMOGRSACMREENRIANTGEISNCREABSYEDPERCENT
optimal care and early diagnosis of other underlying medical conditions.
s0ROSTASCTEREENRIANTGEISMPROVBEYDPERCENT
Funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the
African-American Medicare Parts A and B beneficiaries are
demonstration project at Henry Ford focuses exclusively on African-American
Medicare beneficiaries in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties who will be
still being sought to enroll in the project. Those interested in
followed over a four-year period.
finding out more about enrollment can call Josephine Ford
Cancer Center at (313) 916-9033.
 | Too young for Cancer • September/October 2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16