We can make a difference in colon cancer mortality rates in Pa.

Health equity continues to be a topic of discussion, and we need to ensure those key conversations are met with actions to help safeguard communities hit hardest by health disparities like those found in cancer screening and prevention.

Recent headlines about those affected by colon cancer, including soccer star Pele, Broadway actor Quentin Lee and U.S. Rep. Donald McEachin, underscore the need for awareness and advocacy, including right here in Pennsylvania where colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

Unfortunately, colon cancer disproportionately affects the African American community — which is 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer and about 40% more likely to die from it than most other groups. And while advanced technologies and screening tools can help catch cancer early, screening rates among the Black community are lower than other racial groups. What’s more, minority populations have a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with the disease when it is more advanced.  Unfortunately, delayed diagnosis — which may due to a lack of equal access to health care and its resources — has negatively impacted the mortality rate among Black Americans.

While there is so much power and positivity to health and screening advocacy, it shines a light on the injustices present in our health care system. Lack of awareness and access are only some of the health disparities facing minority communities in Pennsylvania and beyond. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services aptly states that Pennsylvania is one of many states across the nation where residents experience significant health disparities by race.

When it comes to colorectal cancer, age, diet, genetics and lifestyle can also contribute to an increased risk. In thinking about the food deserts we have in Pennsylvania among minority communities, for example, it’s easy to see how the health of our residents may be inadvertently affected, potentially contributing to the alarming statistic about colon cancer rates in the state.

If we want to see a change, it is critical to inform our communities about risk factors, screening options and opportunities to maintain and protect their health.

Nationally, the CDC’s Colorectal Cancer Control Program has been working to increase colorectal cancer screening by providing money to health departments, universities and other organizations to increase screening rates. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently lowered barriers to health care access for individuals with Medicare, noting patients shouldn’t be burdened by an unexpected bill for follow-up colonoscopies. It is a significant step to improving colorectal cancer care and expanding access to preventive screenings.

Locally, the state Health Department introduced the Office of Health Equity nearly 15 years ago to help improve the health of Pennsylvanians across key priority areas, including preventive services. Organizations like Olympus, which has its U.S. headquarters in Upper Saucon Township, are leading the way to help provide the advanced technologies necessary to diagnose and treat colon cancer.

As someone who works at Olympus, I’m passionate about advocating for colon cancer awareness and screening. Identifying colon cancer early can make all the difference in a patient’s prognosis. In collaboration with their health care providers, patients should be empowered to make informed decisions for their care while considering their family health history, risk factors, age and symptoms.

We are making strides, but there is much more work to be done. The American Cancer Society estimated that more than 150,000 cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in 2022 accompanied by more than 52,500 deaths. If readily available resources and information on colorectal cancer screenings and prevention are overlooked and/or poorly promoted, then there will likely be a continuous detrimental impact of this disease on our underserved communities.

Tanisha Heard is a sales analyst at Olympus Corp. of the Americas, a medical technology company in Upper Saucon Township. Heard leads the company’s African American Colleague Affinity Network.