This year's Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness week (EMCAW) aims to increase community awareness on the importance of taking action to reduce the risk of certain cancers that have proven to be higher among black Britons.  

Although hardly ever openly talked about within the community research shows that cancer is now so common that everyone will know someone who is affected by it.  EMCAW which runs from 3rd to 10th July gives charities and health providers across the UK the chance to run events for minorities around this issue.

‘The EMCAW week is a fantastic chance for all in the community to come together around this issue. (sic) It provides the opportunity to talk and find out more about cancer in a relaxed and open environment, 'Jennifer Layburn, Chair of EMCAW said.

Data from the National Cancer Research Institute shows that one third of people in the UK develop some form of cancer at some time in their lives and sadly a quarter of all people die from it. However the low uptake of service by people from African Caribbean communities has resulted in poorer survival rates black Britons.

‘Cancer awareness is important for everyone, however as figures show,that there is a need to reach ethnic minority communities with targeted awareness messages to increase levels of in future awareness and early diagnosis to help reduce the inequalities that exist in survival and mortality figures,' Layburn said.

Prostate cancer

Although ethnicity is still not routinely recorded by cancer registries, there is evidence to show that certain types of cancer are experienced at varying rates among different communities. 

Data published by BME Cancer Care show that men from African Caribbean communities are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer and that they are diagnosed on average five years younger than white men.

‘I am very concerned because our communities our not aware that black men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, five years earlier than their white counterparts. The event that we have organised for EMCAW on Friday focuses on the importance of getting this information out into the community.

It is also equally important for the health care providers and primary care services to be aware of this in order to put in place strategies in place to redress these trends,' Rose Thompson director of BME CancerCare told Black Mental Health UK.

Broadcaster Darcus Howe has also teamed up with Macmillan Cancer Support in a campaign to make men more aware of prostate cancer . ‘ Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK. It is not yet clear why, but Black men of West African or Caribbean background have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer than white men. They can contact Macmillan for practical information and advice to help them,' Kim Hardwick, Senior Nurse at Macmillan Cancer Support, said.

Early diagnosis can save lives

For many cancers an earlier diagnosis can mean treatment is more likely to succeed. Experts say that people who are more aware of cancer symptoms are more likely to seek medical advice earlier when they notice problems, so raising awareness could save lives.

While there are strategies in place to improve awareness, health campaigners say it is especially important to target populations where it's known to be low, such as certain ethnic minority communities and African Caribbean communities in particular.

Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancers in the UK and affects women of all ethnic groups.  The Department of Health's NHS breast screening programme in England saves around 1,400 lives each year .

Data also shows that black women have higher rates of breast cancer at a much younger age than their white counterparts . However very little has been done to inform this group about preventative measures or how to attend early screening.  

There still remains a need for healthcare professionals and cancer charities to provide culturally sensitive care that is tailored to black women's cultural values and beliefs.

‘We need much more research in this area - what we do know is that the triple negative breast cancers which are not hormone dependant are more likely to be found in women from  African and African Caribbean backgrounds at a much younger age.  

Women in our communities need to be more aware if this - not to scare people but so that they will  attend screenings,' Thompson said.

BME Cancer Care have organised an event entitled ‘Too Quiet, Too Long' from 9.00 - 3.00pm for Friday 9^th July in Nottingham for this years EMCAW.