Men’s Health

Cancer Prevention Education

Tony Grissett, Cancer Prevention Coordinator

Duval County Health Department

Presentation Goals

• To provide you with the tools needed to provide

culturally competent cancer risk reduction

education to minority males in Duval County.

• This presentation will cover:

1. Risk Factors

2. Cultural Barriers to Cancer Screenings

3. Initiatives to Address Cultural Barriers to Screening

BackgroundAstounding Disparities

Colon Cancer is Treatable!Early Detection Saves Lives

• The earlier it’s

detected, the

more treatment

options available!

• By the time most

black men go to

the doctor and get

diagnosed, the

cancer is in Stage

IV!

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Colorectal Cancer

Disparities

•African American

men are

disproportionately

impacted by

colorectal cancer

•To effectively

address this issue

requires a keen

understanding of the

health practices and

beliefs of African

American men.

High Risk Population

African American

Over 40 years old

Family History of Cancer

High Fat/Low Fiber Diet

Overweight and/or Obese

Smoker

Men Tackling The Big

“C”In July 2010, 100 Black Men of

Jacksonville Inc., received a 3-year

$350,000 from the State of Florida’s

Office of Minority Health to increase

awareness of the importance of regular

cancer screenings in improving cancer

outcomes in Northeast Florida.

In January 2011, the 100 Black Men of

Jacksonville received a $30,000 grant

from the American Cancer Society to

specifically focus on preventing

colorectal cancer among African

American males in Duval County.

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Barriers to ScreeningLack of Knowledge

Fear

Distrust of Healthcare System

Reason Why Men Don’t Get Screened!

Lack of KnowledgeWhere is my colon and what does it

do?

Fear of losing manhoodA real man won’t do that!

Distrust of the healthcare

system•Tuskegee Experiment

•Failure to communicate with

physicians

Barrier #1

Increase Knowledge

What is a colon?

The last place food stops on it’s way out of the body.

What does it do?

Absorbs the remaining water and minerals the waste matter moves to the rectum.

Why should I get it checked?

Because you can die a painful death if you don’t

Barrier #2

Confront The Fear

masculinity - the trait of behaving in

ways considered typical for men

• Real Men Get Screened!

• Real Men Face Fears, Instead

of Running From Them

Barrier #3

Find a physician you can trust!

Creating a Partnership

1. Find a physician that you trust.

2. Work as a team to make health

decisions that work best for you.

Effective Communication

1. Write out your questions in

advance.

2. If you don’t understand something

your doctors says, stop him or her

and have them explain it again.

3. Take an advocate with you to the

appointment (wife, child, friend).

Colorectal Cancer is Beatable !Don’t wait until it’s too late!

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Men Tackling The Big “C”

www.mentacklingthebigc.com

1. Colorectal Cancer is Preventable

2. Early Detection is the Key

3. Get Screened

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www.mentacklingthebigc.com

www.100blackmenjax.org

www.cancer.org

For more information visit these sites:

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