Fox Chase Cancer Center Researchers Successfully Increase Cervical Cancer Screening Rates Among Korean-American Women

PHILADELPHIA (November 21, 2016) – Researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center found that cervical cancer screening rates in the traditionally under-served and under-screened community of Korean-American women increased in response to a multi-component health intervention. The trial was a joint effort by Fox Chase and Temple University, and was funded by the American Cancer Society. The findings appear in the journal Cancer.

In a randomized trial involving 705 women, half received general health education, including information about cervical cancer risk and screening, and where to obtain low-cost or no-cost screening. The other half received a culturally relevant cancer education program combined with navigation services. Researchers found that the intervention program contributed to significantly higher screening rates compared with the control group.

Carolyn Fang, PhD
Carolyn Fang, PhD
“This research speaks to the benefits of providing community-based education and navigation support,” said Carolyn Fang, PhD, co-leader of the cancer prevention and control program at Fox Chase and lead author on the study. “One of the next steps is examining how we can partner with community organizations, local businesses, and city health departments to create opportunities for this type of service to be strategically embedded within community settings.”

Though the study focused specifically on cervical cancer screening in Korean-American women, a similar approach can be used with other populations and other cancers, such as colorectal cancer.

“The Fox Chase Cancer Prevention and Control team carries out the Center’s mission of prevailing over cancer by working with our local communities to help people adopt behaviors that reduce cancer risk - and that includes cancer screening,” Fang said. “Appropriate screening can aid in prevention when cervical lesions or colon polyps are detected at a precancerous stage. For these cancers, there is a distinct advantage to screening and early detection.”

Fox Chase Cancer Center (Fox Chase), which includes the Institute for Cancer Research and the American Oncologic Hospital and is a part of Temple Health, is one of the leading comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase is also one of just 10 members of the Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence six consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. It is the policy of Fox Chase Cancer Center that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.

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