Cancer Institute Gets National Recognition

Georgia is on the cutting edge of cancer treatment and prevention-- that's according to the National Cancer Institute.

Governor Sonny Perdue announced this morning Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute has earned the NCI center of excellence designation.

"Thirty-seven thousand people that sometime in the next year in Georgia will hear those dreaded words I’m sorry to tell you this but you have cancer," said Governor Perdue. "Fortunately though because places like the Winship Center it doesn’t have the implication or lack of hope it once had. Those 37,000 people are the bigger winners in today's announcement."

The designation also translates into $4.2 million in grant funding for the next two years, and officials say with the recognition, the center will attract top cancer researchers throughout the world.

The state had a part in Emory’s success… it matches money from the private sector.

The Winship Cancer Institute in Atlanta researches cancer treatment and prevention, and provides state of the art patient care to Georgians.

Boost for ailing minority health care

Minority health care in several southwest Georgia counties gets failing marks according to a new report. The 2008 Health Disparities Report (.pdf download) says that while racial and ethnic minorities make up about a third of Georgia's population, they are much more likely to have health problems.

The Office of Minority Health, which put out the report is working to equalize health care access for minority and non-minority populations in Georgia.

Kristal Ammons of the Department of Community Health says Muscogee County's grade was among the lowest statewide:

“...particularly in the overall report card -- they received a grade of 'F' for prenatal care and maternal health outcomes.”

Representatives met with local officials in Columbus on Thursday to discuss ways of improving minority health care.

Ammons says a matrix of poor education, poverty and economic hardship are a big part of the problem, but adds that many other counties received higher ratings.

The group plans to distribute $1.5 million in improvement grants statewide. The funds will also cover other health issues including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and HIV/AIDS.

The group plans to set up coalitions with local officials and health care providers in Fort Valley, Valdosta and Brunswick, among others statewide.

Click here for more GPB coverage of health issues in Georgia.

Georgia Gets Local Clinical Cancer Trials

Only 1 out of 7 cancer patients participate clinical trials becuase until now, the newest treatments were mostly available in major metropolitan areas. Cancer patients across rural Georgia now have access to the newest cancer treatments, once available only in large cities.

The National Cancer institute is funding clinical trials in Columbus, Savannah and Rome as part of a three year study.

Dr. Ken Davis, with Harbin Clinic in Rome said travel expenses can often put cutting edge treatments out of reach.

“It’s just totally inconvenient and totally so expensive that there’s no way that someone in Rome, Georgia can afford it. Plus, the volumes you can have, in six institutions, you can’t have all these patients in those locations,” said
Davis.

The clinical trials will offer the newest chemotherapy programs and cancer research drugs. If the study goes well, the National Cancer Institute may offer clinical trials in more areas.

Columbus Catfish to host cancer-stricken kids

Camp Sunshine, a non-profit group that aids children with cancer and their families, will sponsor a Columbus Catfish baseball game at 7 p.m. this evening in the city's Golden Park.

The Catfish will go up against Asheville, and both teams have their eye on the division title.

Organizers promise a picnic dinner and fireworks after the game.