It’s time for the “4th Annual National Black Family Cancer Awareness Week, Engaging the Generations” Conversation on Cancer public panel discussion. The June 13, 2024, online discussion, beginning at 2:30pm ET, is the lead event preceding the annual weeklong social media campaign. Under Project Community, FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence is encouraging a wide array of public and private, community-focused engagement entities, organizations, and families throughout the US and the diaspora to join this Conversation on Cancer discussion. There’s no charge. It’s open to the public upon registration. #BlackFamCan is the dedicated vehicle for noting all National Black Family Cancer Awareness initiative social media mentions, impressions, and engagement. The complementary social media campaign is open to all supportive patients, advocates, communities, and organizations interested in advancing greater equity in global cancer outcomes using #BlackFamCan.
Participation in National Black Family Cancer Awareness Week isn’t prescriptive; however, participants are encouraged to align 2024 supportive endeavors and activities with White House Cancer Moonshot goals, supported by OCE Project Community:
• Thursday, June 13 -- Emphasize efforts to close the cancer screening gap.
• Friday, June 14 - Understand and address cancer-related environmental exposure.
• Saturday, June 15 - Support “Engaging the Generations” for Juneteenth and Father’s Day Weekend.
• Sunday, June 16 - Support “Engaging the Generations” for Juneteenth and Father’s Day Weekend.
• Monday, June 17 - Emphasize the harmful impact of tobacco use and decrease the impact of preventable cancers.
• Tuesday, June 18 - Support cancer research among patients and communities, especially clinical trials and contributing biospecimens to genetic research databases, e.g., “NIH, All of Us.”
• Wednesday, June 19 - Support patients and caregivers (4th Annual Juneteenth Federal Holiday).
Each year, 180,000 cancer deaths in the US are attributed to tobacco use. Of those deaths, at least 45,000 are Black or African American. In 2024, we’re emphasizing the harmful impact of tobacco use. Through this FDA Oncology Center of Excellence panel dialogue and social media series, the National Black Family Cancer Awareness initiative aims to:
• Continue marshaling community-based stakeholders from all sectors to increase cancer awareness.
• Build greater knowledge of and participating in cancer clinical trials among African Americans.
• Increase minority population donations to national genetic databases to advance cancer research for all.