CHICAGO, IL | February 23, 2022
Today, the American Lung Association in Greater Chicago announced the new Awareness, Trust and Action campaign, which aims to educate Black Americans in Chicago about clinical trials and encourage them to speak with their healthcare provider.
“We know that representation matters. When Black Americans enroll in clinical trials they can benefit from the latest science and treatments and researchers can learn about how lung cancer treatments work in different people,” said Kristina Hamilton, advocacy director at the Lung Association. “Unfortunately, one in 16 Black men and one in 20 Black women will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime and they are underrepresented in clinical trials. It is critical to educate more people about these stark disparities.”
A survey conducted of more than 500 people about clinical trials in Chicago, Philadelphia and Houston revealed that many people have false perceptions of clinical trials. In the survey, 45% said that they don’t participate in clinical trials because of fear of negative side effects and 33% don’t participate because of fear of mistreatment.
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of both men and women in the United States, however, people of color suffer disproportionally from lung cancer. According to the Lung Association’s “State of Lung Cancer” report, Black Americans in Illinois are least likely to receive surgical treatment for lung cancer.
Clinical trials are highly monitored research studies that can test many things like how to prevent a disease, new ways to detect or diagnose a disease, or new ways to treat a disease. Each participant in a clinical trial is treated with the highest level of care. Sometimes, the most appropriate treatment option for a lung cancer patient is through a clinical trial.
More information about the Awareness, Trust and Action campaign is available at Lung.org/Trials-and-You.
Support for this project is provided in part by AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb and Merck.
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The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Gold-Level GuideStar Member, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.
For more information, contact:
Dana Kauffman
312-940-7624
[email protected]
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