April 19, 2001
Twelve new Alabama locations have been added for a landmark UAB study in which African Americans may receive free cancer screening tests.
Participants of UAB’s Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) trial will help determine whether such screening tests can reduce the cancer death rate, and help make national screening guidelines appropriate for all races. African Americans are at higher risk of prostate and some other cancers.
Of the 5,000 Alabamians initially recruited into the PLCO program, almost 20% are African-American, primarily from the Birmingham area. Alfred Adams, MD, an African American and UAB preventive medicine specialist, said, “Nationwide, only about 4% of the 150,000 PLCO participants are black, so the National Cancer Institute asked UAB to recruit another 1,000 African-American participants into the study.”
The study seeks African-Americans 55-74 years of age who are not currently being treated for any cancer and have never had the targeted four cancers.
Half the participants, selected at random, will have limited participation with no screening tests, while the other half will be more thoroughly examined with free blood tests, chest x-rays, sigmoidoscopy of the colon. Female participants will also receive ultrasound exams. All patients will be followed yearly for 14 years to determine whether the screening tests enhance length of life.
African Americans wanting to participate should call 1.888.430.7526 (toll-free) for information. Free infomration sessions for participants will be presented 10 am to noon at the following locations and dates:
Gadsden
May 1, 2001 and June 6, 2001
Etowah County Annex
3200A West Meighan Blvd.
Loachapoka
May 3, 2001
Pleasant View Missionary Baptist Church
7282 Alabama Hwy. 14 W.
Jasper
May 7, 2001
Jasper Extension Center
1501 North Airport Rd.
Talladega
May 9, 2001 and June 7, 2001
Talladega Extension Center
132 N. Court St.
Montevallo/Calera
May 15, 2001
Northside Baptist Church
750 14th St.
Calera, AL
Livingston
May 17, 2001
Sumter County Health Department
1121 N. Washington St.
Pine Apple
May 19, 2001
Pine Apple Rural Health Center
867 County Rd. 59
Montgomery
May 22, 2001 and June 19, 2001
Beard Building
1445 Federal Dr.
Huntsville
May 24, 2001 and June 14, 2001
Charles Stone Agricultural Center
819 Cook Ave.
Selma
May 29, 2001
Courthouse Annex
1313 Alabama Ave.
Demopolis
May 31, 2001
Robertson Bank
201 N. Walnut Ave.
Tuskegee
June 12, 2001
Tuskegee Municipal Complex
101 Fonville St.