(April 3, 2008 - Washington, DC) With mounting evidence that many Americans remain the invisible people with cancer who don’t get regular screening examinations, smoke at higher rates, are frequently diagnosed after their cancer has spread and, therefore, die more frequently and more quickly from this disease, the ICC Caucus issued a new 12-step action plan at the Intercultural Cancer Council's 11th Biennial Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Underserved and Cancer. The plan outlines how the Administration and the U.S. Congress can begin to help those cancer patients who are falling through the cracks of the healthcare system. Titled From Awareness to Action: A Renewed Call to Eliminate the Unequal Burden of Cancer, this national call to action provides realistic goals for helping racial and ethnic minorities, those living in rural areas, the elderly and the poor who remain at greatest risk for developing and dying from cancer. Specifically, the plan addresses a widening gap in cancer care among American Indians and Alaskan Natives and those living in the out islands of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa and other Pacific Islands, who now have cancer incidence and death rates similar to third world countries.
Read what others are saying about our new call to action . . .
Indian Country Today
Nation's Health (American Public Health Association)

The Intercultural Cancer Council's quarterly newsletter, theVoice, includes an "Advocacy in Action" column by Caucus President, Jennie R. Cook. Following her column is good way to learn more about the work of the Caucus.
You can read the current and previous issues of the newsletter at . . .
http://iccnetwork.org/thevoice/