Funded by the 2018 Victory Ride to Cure Cancer
African Americans have the highest percentage of new cancer cases in the United States and the worst outcomes. Some people die from cancers that can be prevented or treated, simply because they are not aware of all of the treatment options. Cancer care can be very difficult because many times a patient has more than one doctor who is part of their care team. This can be scary and may make some people choose not to get cancer treatment, even if they can be cured. Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center (WFBCCC) wants to make sure that everyone has access to the best cancer care possible. To meet that goal, we will engage an African American Patient navigator (AAPN) – someone who is from the community who can help people learn about cancer, how to prevent it, what screening is required and what treatments are available. If someone diagnosed with cancer comes to WFBCCC for treatment and needs assistance, the AAPN will meet with them and work to help remove any barriers to care. The AAPN will also talk about clinical research that may be recommended as part of a treatment plan. Cancer research may improve outcomes for them or it may provide information that can help improve treatments for the next generation of cancer patients. Since African Americans get cancer more often, it is important to make sure they are represented in studies that look at new treatments and supports for cancer patients.
