Ohio Latino Cancer Summit – September 10th

Ohio Latino Cancer Summit – September 10th

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The 2nd Annual Ohio Latino Cancer Summit will take place on Friday,September 10th, 2010 at the Glenwood United Methodist Church in Columbus , Ohio . The goal of the summit is to convene healthcare providers, community leaders, and public health professionals to discuss the important issue of cancer and its impact on the growing Latino population in the state of Ohio . The inaugural summit featured past American Cancer Society
National Board President, Dr. Elmer E. Huerta, MD, MPH. This year’s Summit will feature Dr.
Miguel A. Villalona, Director of Medical Oncology at The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

In early 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that nearly one in six residents or 46.9 million
people in America are of Latino descent. Cancer is the second leading cause of death for Latinos
in the US , accounting for about 20% of all deaths. The American Cancer Society also reports
that although Latinos have lower incidence rates for all cancers combined when compared to
whites, they generally have higher rates of cancers associated with certain infections, such as uterine cervix, liver, gallbladder, and stomach cancers. Cancer in Latinos is often detected in later stages and so the prognosis is generally not as good as in the rest of the population. This could be due to barriers that the Latino community faces such as language, lack of health insurance, low income level, and lack of a medical home. Efforts to reduce health disparities and increase quality of life amongst this priority population have encountered many challenges and opportunities.

In an effort to address this important issue and highlight current best practices, The James Cancer
Hospital’s Diversity Enhancement Program, American Cancer Society, and the Latino
Empowerment Outreach Network (LEON) have convened a special consortium of organizations to produce the 2010 Ohio Latino Cancer Summit. Participating organizations include the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Insurance, OhioHealth Research & Innovation Institute, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Case Western Reserve University
Comprehensive Cancer Center , and Telemundo Columbus.

"This highlights the unequal cancer burden the Latino population faces, and it is critically
important for all of us to come together to address these disparities," said Frank Bright, Chief Mission officer of the American Cancer Society in Ohio . "This opportunity can help us have a lasting impact for ...