Cancer Awareness Initiatives – FACC primarily highlighted two national public health awareness campaigns and conducts targeted public outreach events and educate our community on how to fight and stand together against cancer. In addition, we work with other cancer organizations that specializes on other types of cancer.

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September – Leukemia and Other Blood Cancer Disorders Awareness Month Campaign - The American In 2019, The Society of Hematology reports that there are an estimated combined total of 176,200 people in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma.” Together, blood cancers account for about 10% of all new cancer cases expected to be diagnosed in the U.S and while treatments for blood cancers have improved significantly over the past 20 years, they can still be fatal. The study also reports that “approximately every 4 minutes, someone in the U.S. dies from a blood cancer. There are 3 main types of blood cancers: Leukemia, cancer that is found in your blood and bone marrow; Lymphoma, blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system; and Myeloma, blood cancer that specifically targets your plasma cells. This statistic represents approximately 156 people each day.” This amounts to 9.4% of the anticipated deaths from cancer during 2019. Overall five-year relative survival rates for blood cancers range from 52% for myeloma to 88% for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Survival rates vary widely depending on type, stage at diagnosis, age of the patient and treatment protocol.

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Approximately every 4 minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with a type of blood cancer. Over 1 million Americans are living with, or are in remission from, leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. Those with blood disorders are often in need of blood transfusions. Leukemia is the 10th most frequently occurring type of cancer in all races or ethnicities. About 31% more males are living with leukemia than females. And more males than females are diagnosed with leukemia and die from it. Unfortunately, most cases of leukemia and lymphoma cannot be prevented. Real, known causes of leukemia and lymphoma have not been identified. There are possible risk factors for leukemia and lymphoma. For now, the best way to reduce the risk for leukemia and lymphoma is to try to prevent known risk factors. In general, Asian Americans and Filipino-Americans If you become ill with a blood cancer or other disease that requires a stem cell transplant, here’s an uncomfortable fact: Your race matters. Diversity is a strength in much of life, but it’s a curse when finding a stem cell donor match. FACC is dedicated to raise awareness the need to strengthen the diversification of donor registry and we strategically partnered with Be The Match for this cancer awareness campaign.  

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October – Breast Cancer Awareness Month Campaign - All women should know about their breast cancer risk — a factor that varies with age and family history. Learn about when, how and why to get screened. Different health care organizations have adjusted their recommendations for breast cancer screening in recent years. That has led to confusion about whether annual mammograms are necessary for women over 40 -- and whether women should do self-exams of their breasts. Approximately 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. That’s a little more than 12 percent. It might not seem like much, but thinking about your eight closest friends puts it in perspective. Chances are, at least one of your friends will be diagnosed and receive treatment. Even though a woman’s risk of breast cancer almost doubles if it runs in her immediate family, about 75 percent of diagnosed women have no family history of breast cancer.

 

In 2018, an estimated 266,120 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. An estimated 40,920 will die from it. Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women. Men can get breast cancer, too. About 1 in 1,000 men will be diagnosed in their lifetime. Filipino-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer than their major Asian American counterparts even though they do not have the highest incidence of that cancer. Analysis showed that they have a more advanced stage at the time of diagnosis and they have low rates of compliance to mammography guidelines, both of which factors may contribute to their high mortality rate. FACC is developing variety of broad based but targeted breast cancer awareness effort to our community directed to Filipino-American women, which included involving the media, the training of key community leaders, and the development of partnerships with health organizations with a like mission.