Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Week (EMCAW) 2011

Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Week (EMCAW) is one week each year when we can all come together to raise awareness of cancer within ethnic minority communities in Britain.  This year EMCAW is between 11- 17 July 2011.

What is Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Week (EMCAW)?

Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Week (EMCAW) is one week each year when we can all come together to raise awareness of cancer within ethnic minority communities in Britain. EMCAW is organised by an alliance of charities working with and within communities to raise awareness of cancer.

Why is it important?

1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives; therefore it is an important issue for everyone. However awareness of cancer and uptake of some cancer services is lower among ethnic minorities, added to this some ethnic minorities tend to be diagnosed when the disease is more advanced, all of which can lead to poorer survival. Additionally research indicates that some cancers are more common among particular communities and groups. For example:

• African-Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer compared to white men.
• Mouth cancer is more common among South Asian communities
• Liver cancer is higher among Bangladeshi and Chinese communities

Cancer affects all communities and everyone should be aware of it. By supporting and taking part in EMCAW you will be working towards raising awareness of the disease among your own community and empowering individuals to take up the services available to them.

For more information please visit http://www.emcaw.co.uk