ABSTRACT
Cancer etiology and relapse are at least partially linked to individually modifiable behaviors. Cancers with consensus screening programs can be detected and pre-cancerous conditions can be addressed through ongoing comprehensive tracking. A chronic disease model for cancer control recognizes the need for careful attention to helping individual patients make it through this demanding process through maintenance of formal relationships and nurturing of informal coordination links. African Americans and other traditionally underserved groups are at greater risk for getting cancer, having poorer treatment and, having worse survival outcomes. For breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancer, there are reports of culturally tailored interventions to increase screening that typically involve use of community health workers to conduct educational programs using culturally and linguistically adapted materials. In some multiple component programs, education is linked to operational enhancements that address access barriers.
