Community Connections | March 2013 | Volume No 4, Issue 2

The “Bottom Line” About Colorectal Cancer Did you know that colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable types of cancer? Yet, it remains the third-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, claiming more than 50,000 lives each year. Colorectal cancer incidence and death rates are highest in African American men and women; incidence rates are 20% higher and death rates are about 45% higher than those in whites.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

“CANCER DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A DEATH SENTENCE. YOU CAN GO ON AS I HAVE.” —BETTY GREEN COLORECTAL CANCER SURVIVOR

In an effort to change these statistics, Roswell Park continues to raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of the disease and encourage more people to take advantage of life-saving screening procedures. In order to successfully do this, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) and the Office of Cancer Health Disparities Research (OCHDR) promotes educational presentations that will help those especially most at-risk for the disease to: -Understand their risk levels for colorectal cancer -Follow recommended screening guidelines based on individual risk factors -Be proactive if they are at higher-than-average risk

-Make lifestyle and other changes to help prevent the disease -Seek a second opinion if they have been diagnosed. Colon cancer survivor, Betty Green, who was treated at RPCI, credits a simple fecal occult blood test (FOBT) and colonoscopy with saving her life. Before screening, Betty was not aware that being African American and over 50 were two factors that put her at an increased risk for colon cancer. “I see what they do there now, “ she says about Roswell Park and its Colorectal High-Risk Clinic. “I tell my friends not to be afraid in getting early cancer detection screenings.” Regular screenings can help prevent colon cancer by removing polyps before they become cancerous. When this disease is discovered at its early stages, chance of a cure is nearly 90%. Since June 2010, the OCHDR has been offering free colorectal cancer awareness presentations. If you or your organization would like to schedule a colorectal cancer awareness presentation, please contact Nikia Clark at (716) 845-4888.

Betty offers one more message to Community Connections readers: “Cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence. You can go on as I have. I knew I had to go to Roswell Park because I’d have the best doctors. I’m here today because of it.”

Betty Green

Inside this issue: ROSWELL PARK & OCHDR PROMOTES CENTER FOR PERSONALIZED MEDICINE

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RPCI CELEBRATES “WOMEN IN STEM”

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WITNESS PROJECT

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ESPERANZA Y VIDA

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MAN UP

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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Back Cover: “Stormin’ the Streets!”

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Community Connections Roswell Park & OCHDR Team Promotes Center for Personalized Medicine Roswell Park, along with staff representing the OCHDR, recently announced that it has begun promoting Roswell Park’s new Center for Personalized Medicine (CPM). CPM uses advanced science to better understand the DNA-cancer link, and puts that information to work with the goal of both preventing cancer and treating it more effectively, with fewer side effects. In related news, the Independent Health Foundation has agreed to allow the CPM to participate at its “Good for the Neighborhood” (GFTN) community activities. GFTN began in May 2006 and helps thousands of people to manage and improve their overall health. It brings healthy living training and tools to assist people in managing and improving their own health. GFTN partners with

community-based leaders and organizations in Western New York neighborhoods where access to healthcare is limited due to social and economic barriers. Plans include the Roswell Park Personalized Medicine mobile lab being present at GFTN-sponsored events and venues throughout the Buffalo -Niagara region at various times of the year to collect blood samples from healthy volunteers. To see where and when the mobile lab will be, check out the Calendar of Events page in this newsletter, or go to www.roswellpark.org/ disparities/now-u-know. Or call Nikia Clark at (716) 845-4888 for English information, or Jomary Colon at (716) 845-4623 for information in Spanish.

Personalized Medicine Mobile Lab

OCHDR’s Nikia Clark answered questions about the CPM at a GFTN event that occurred at the West Side Community Services in March

Roswell Park Celebrates Women in S.T.E.M. To recognize National Women’s Month, the Roswell Park Office of Diversity will host “Women in Stem” (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Young women representing the Buffalo Public Schools and Buffalo Charter Schools have been invited to a lunch and learn panel Page 2

discussion regarding career opportunities from women involved in sciences, technology, engineering or medicine who work at Roswell Park. Dr. Elisa Rodriguez, Director or Community Engagement Resources, has been invited to be a panelist. Immediately following the luncheon, there will be a tour of several

Roswell Park departments, including the CPM, Department of Urology (robotics) and the UB Center of Excellence. The event is scheduled for Thursday, March 28th in the Zebro Conference Room at Roswell Park, 11:30 am-2 pm. Contact David Scott at (716) 845-8840 to RSVP.

Volume 4, Issue 2 Witness Project “I am just ecstatic,” said Dee Johnson, Director of the Buffalo/Niagara Witness Project. “Our relationship with ECMC’s Breast Health Mobile Mammography Unit in helping to conduct our “One-StopShop” breast education and screening programs yielded great results last year.” Last year, three organizations, the ECMC Life Line Organization, the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Association and the First Niagara Foundation developed a

mammography bus with two state-of-the-art mammography units on it. This bus travels across Western New York giving breast exams to those people who are not regularly getting screened. Local breast cancer surgeon Dr. Vivian Lindfield said she hopes to see fewer patients in her operating room because of this preventative measure. "We're saying underserved or never served, but this is even

women who have jobs but they’re busy or they can't get to their doctor because they’re caring for everyone else and the mammogram is kind of their last thought.” “Establishing partnerships like the one we have with ECMC is key to saving lives. We’re all in this together,” said Dee.

the Witness Project’s or the Esperanza y Vida’s OneStop-Shops, contact Dee Johnson at (716) 845-1394 (Witness), or for Spanish-speakers, contact Jomary Colon at (716) 845-4623 (for Esperanza y Vida).

For more information about

Esperanza y Vida In late February, Esperanza y Vida staff, Jomary Colon, and Isnory Colon, presented a “Cancer 101” presentation in Spanish for several Hispanic/Latino clients at the Joint Neighborhood Project in Jamestown, NY. “Events such as these provide Spanish-speaking people basic information they should know about cancer,” said

Jomary. “In our presentations, we make sure we don’t use scientific or medical terms that are difficult for the normal person to understand. Like the lower West Side of Buffalo, Chautauqua County has a high concentration of residents that are Hispanic/ Latino, so it is important that we continue to reach out to this community with our outreach programming.”

These will include Esperanza y Vida, a bilingual program for Latinas that provides education about breast and cervical cancer screening. For more information about cancer awareness presentations in Spanish, or Esperanza y Vida, contact Jomary Colon at (716) 845-4623.

“THESE EVENTS PROVIDE SPANISHSPEAKING PEOPLE BASIC INFORMATION THEY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CANCER.” —JOMARY COLON

MAN UP Members of Minorities Allied for the Need to Understand Prostate Cancer (MAN UP) recently participated in the annual Cavalcade of Cars at the Hamburg Fairgrounds in Hamburg, NY. “This event brings out thousands of men who loves cars,” said Charles Ferguson, MAN UP president. “What better way

to reach men in need of prostate cancer education than at venues such as these?” MAN UP members participated over the two-day weekend event in late February, which included staffing a MAN UP informational table and engaging over 200 men who had questions regarding early screening.

(At left) MAN UP members Ramon Luciano (in red) & Charles Ferguson

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Community Connections Calendar of Events Calendar of Events Sun

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31 Monday, March 21st, 4:30 pm– 6:30 pm, “Today & Tomorrow” Program w/Roswell Park Personalized Medicine Mobile Lab University at Buffalo Downtown satellite office, 77 Goodell St., Buffalo, NY Monday, March 21st, 6 pm-7:30 pm, “Good for the Neighborhood” Program Doris Jones Family Resource Center, 3001 Ninth St., Niagara Falls, NY Wednesday, March 27th, 9:00 am– 1:30 pm, “Esperanza y Vida/NOW U KNOW” Event Joint Neighborhood Project, 532 East Second Street, Jamestown, NY

APRIL 2013 Monday, April 8th, 10 am-11 am, NOW U KNOW “Cancer Overview Basics 101” Presentation The Salvation Army, 960 Main Street, Buffalo Monday, April 15th, 11 am-2 pm, Stormin’ the Streets “Meet & Greet” & Informational Tabling Buffalo City Hall Lobby, 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY

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Volume 4, Issue 2

April 2013

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Tuesday, April 16th, 11 am-2 pm, Stormin’ the Streets “Meet & Greet” & Informational Tabling The Rath Building-Main Place Mall Connector, 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY Wednesday, April 17th, 11 am-2 pm, Community Showcase Presents: “Healthy Eating, Healthy Living” Roswell Park Cancer Institute Main Hospital Connector, 1st Floor Thursday, April 18th, 11 am-2 pm, Stormin’ the Streets “Meet & Greet” & Informational Tabling NFTA Central Bus Terminal Concourse, 181 Ellicott St., Buffalo, NY Saturday, April 20th, 8:30 am-2 pm, Buffalo Chapter of the Links “Women of Color Health Conference” Millennium Airport Hotel Buffalo, 2040 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga, NY Tuesday, April 23rd, 9 am-5 pm, Esperanza y Vida “One-Stop-Shop” Breast Education & Screening Event West Side Community Services, 161 Vermont St., Buffalo, NY Thursday, April 25th, 10:30 am-2:30 pm, NOW U KNOW/Stormin’ the Streets Activity Chautauqua County Rural Ministry, 127 Central Ave., Dunkirk, NY

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ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE

Roswell Park Cancer Institute The Carlton House, Room 308-A Elm & Carlton Streets Buffalo, New York 14263 Phone: 716-845-4557 Fax: 716-845-8487 E-mail: [email protected]

We’re on the web! www. roswellpark.org/disparities/now-u-know

“Stormin’ the Streets!”—Back Beginning in April! This year, April 15th until April 21st is designated as National Minority Cancer Awareness Week. “The purpose of the week includes fostering collaborations with local agencies and organizations to develop programs that reach historically underserved populations with cancer prevention, early detection and cancer treatment information,” said Terry Alford, OCHDR Community Relations Coordinator. “Our overall goal is to provide those most in need of information about cancer with the tools that could save their lives.”

With that in mind, OCHDR staff, RPCI employees, and volunteers will once again participate in “Stormin’ the Streets” activities. This includes participants, all clad in RPCI-branded bright green t-shirts, connecting with passers-bye at the busier intersections and venues within Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Jamestown. Stormin’ the Streets activities will continue into the summer and fall months. For more information about upcoming Stormin’ the Streets activities, see Calendar of Events on pages 4 & 5, or call Terry Alford at (716) 845-4557.