No Shave November
Russell W. Booker, Ph.D., CDE
One Acorn supports Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute in Moonshot Initiative
If you’ve bumped into me in the last few weeks you’ve probably wondered if Daylight Savings Time is to blame for my worsening five-o-clock shadow or if my wife is on an extended business trip. The truth is, my stubbled chin is the byproduct of a campaign I’m participating in called, No Shave November. And, luckily, Sheryl is right here at home and cheering me on. Since 2009, November has been marked as the beginning of Men’s Health Month, and guys across America are encouraged to stop shaving for the month to help change the face of men’s health. The focus of the annual effort is specifically on cancer and raising awareness of its impact on men. The focus of my effort, in writing this article, is a little more granular and a lot more personal.
As an African American male and the father of two teenage sons, it’s sobering to consider the disproportionate toll that cancer takes on the Black community. Even more worrisome is the fact that until more minorities – Black men especially – participate in cancer research, we won’t dramatically alter statistics like these:
African American men are 50% more likely to develop prostate cancer in their lifetime and twice as likely to die from the disease.
Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in Black men.
More men are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer than women – and African Americans are more likely to get pancreatic cancer than any other racial or ethnic group.
Colorectal cancer is the third-leading type of cancer among Black men and women, and Blacks have the highest rates of colon and rectal cancer among any ethnic group in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.
These are the kind of numbers attached to names like Chadwick Boseman and John Lewis - stark statistics that make it clear we have work to do. But here’s some exciting news… we will soon have an opportunity to contribute to that work – right here in our own backyard.
Some of you may know, Sheryl and I recently established a consulting firm called One Acorn, to help organizations realize their purpose and fulfill their potential. Currently, we are partnering with a dedicated group of professionals at the Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute to bring greater awareness to our community about the critical nature of getting minorities to enroll in clinical trials for cancer research. To that end, I’m pleased to tell you about a significant grant for expanded cancer research, that’s been awarded to this very community and the call to action that we can answer.
The grant is a byproduct of a federal program called The Moonshot Initiative. Moonshot was launched in 2016 by President Barak Obama to accelerate cancer research and speed up the process of eradicating cancer. But, here’s the critical point in all of this. The research funded by the grant will only be successful if our Black fathers and brothers, if our Black sons and cousins and uncles get involved. The success of the clinical trials in Spartanburg (that are tied to the Moonshot grant) will be dependent on minority involvement. As One Acorn works alongside the professionals at Gibbs to promote outreach and break down barriers, lead physicians there are optimistic about the local impact of this national initiative. “This work is critically important,” says Dr. Amy Curtis. “It will help scientists unravel the molecular mechanisms for cancer progression in different populations and allow us to treat more effectively. At the same time, we expect that Moonshot will expedite research advances to patients here in our own community."
The Moonshot initiative will also advance research with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that is diagnosed 2.5 and 3.5 times more in Black men and women under the age of 50, than their white counterparts. Dr. Tondre Buck is a hematologist and a lead physician with the Gibbs Moonshot effort. In a recent article he noted that “The exact reasons for these disparities are unknown, but the fact remains that Black Americans are impacted at a higher rate than their white counterparts and more research is needed to better understand this.”
I think we’re all learning there are many different ways to show the world that Black lives indeed matter. We can pledge to be better stewards of our health (think exercise, eating right and annual exams). We can spread the word about the importance of participating in clinical trials. We can help heighten the Black community’s trust in healthcare providers and get to the work of saving more lives.
This is personal, my friends, and I hope you’ll join us at One Acorn and the Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute to find out how you can help. As a community, we continue to navigate the negative effects that COVID-19 has had on our families, in particular people of color. I encourage you to stay ever vigilant. At the same time, let’s raise the awareness of the detrimental impact that cancer continues to have on our community.
Russell W. Booker, Ph.D., CDE President
For more information:
Dr. Tondre Buck (Hematology/Oncology - Spartanburg Regional Medical Center) explains Multiple Myeloma https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=711987316073387&ref=watch_permalink
No Shave November https://no-shave.org
Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute https://www.spartanburgregional.com/locations/gibbs-cancer-center-research-institute-spartanburg
National Cancer Institute – Cancer Moonshot Biobank https://moonshotbiobank.cancer.gov
White House Press Release – Fact Sheet: Investing in the National Cancer Moonshot https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/02/01/fact-sheet-investing-national-cancer-moonshot
Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute https://www.spartanburgregional.com/locations/gibbs-cancer-center-research-institute-spartanburg
National Cancer Institute – Cancer Moonshot Biobank https://moonshotbiobank.cancer.gov
White House Press Release – Fact Sheet: Investing in the National Cancer Moonshot https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/02/01/fact-sheet-investing-national-cancer-moonshot