A huge breakthrough has been made in the fight against Sickle Cell Disease. In December 2023, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two cell-based gene therapies for sickle cell disease (SCD), Casgevy from CRISPR/Vertex and Lyfgenia from Bluebird Bio.

These are the first treatments available to individuals with SCD in the United States. This significant milestone is worth celebrating, but medical professionals and other experts caution that more research must be completed.

“Gene therapy is an exciting and potentially curative addition to the treatments available to sickle cell warriors. This is a historic milestone, but everyone may not be eligible for gene therapy. We must continue to move forward with research to ensure a solution for every member of our community.” Regina Hartfield is the president and CEO of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Inc.

The FDA approved Casgevy and Lyfgenia on December 8. Both treatments will be available for SCD patients in 2024. SCD is an inherited red blood cell disorder. According to the CDC, Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen. Healthy red blood cells are round and move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all body parts. In someone with SCD, the hemoglobin is abnormal, which causes the red blood cells to become stiff and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle.”

The results of these abnormal cells are cramping and throbbing pain in different body parts that can last from days to weeks. Individuals with SCD can have a normal life. Those people manage their stress and hydration to avoid episodes of pain from SCD.

“My biggest thing to keep the crises away is activity and hydration. I hydrate at least two and a half liters a day,” said Gaston Gregoire, A nurse practitioner who has sickle cell.

“I am very active. I cycle about 100 miles a week and go to the gym at least three times a week. I think, more than anything, growing up with a disease made me into who I am. I’m very disciplined and organized. I do as much as possible to avoid being in the hospital and live a normal life as much as possible,” said Gregoire.

In an official statement from the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, they explain how gene therapy is “potentially curative.” The statement explains that the treatment is so new that more data is required to understand its impact and patient prognosis. Additionally, the word “cure” suggests a simple solution that does not reflect the reality of these therapies. Even after treatment, the FDA recommends 15 years of patient monitoring for health issues.

The statement illustrates how effective gene therapy is. This method significantly reduces acute sickle cell pain episodes within a few years of administration. Gene Therapy will need more years of follow-up to determine whether it will also reduce the organ damage of sickle cell disease and if the stem cells treated continue to produce non-sickling red blood cells for the rest of the person’s life or if the stem cells die off over a certain number of years.

Another concern connected to this news is cost. Gene therapy is estimated to cost 2 million dollars, according to the official statement from the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America.

The statement further explains that the savings in lifelong care may exceed the one-time cost of treatment.

“This new medication, I think, is a game changer if it can effectively reduce the number of complications from sickle cell, but the number being thrown around needs to come down. It seems prohibitive,” said Dr. Gerald Acloque, owner of Florida Concierge Medicine and Wellness.

“Being in research, I know it takes a lot of R&D, money, and years of research to fund, but there must be a way to bring this price point down,” said Dr. Acloque.

The FDA’s approval of gene therapy is remarkable because it begins a new chapter of treatment for sickle cell disease. Until now, the only way to cure sickle cell disease was through a bone marrow transplant, which is not a widely accessible option because it requires a matched bone marrow donor. Gene therapy does not require a donor, and it has the potential to be a more widely available treatment. Casgevy and Lyfgenia have opened the door for other gene therapies to gain approval and help advance research into other potentially curative treatments.

“Medications like these that are on the cutting edge were things I heard about when I was in residency. Now they are coming to fruition as real therapeutic medications are game changers not just for this one disease but any other genetic-based disease,” said Dr. Acloque.

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The church has been an anchor for many people in the Black community. A recent study revealed that religion played a role in one’s health. According to the American Heart Association, Those who believe religion plays a vital role in their health may be more likely to eat fruits and vegetables, be physically active, and have confidence asking questions of healthcare providers than their peers who don’t share that belief. The report was based on a study by Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine students in New Orleans. Their findings reveal that the church’s strong support has led to healthy people in the congregation. 

“The black church has played an important role in their constituents’ spiritual, social, and physical well-being. The more cynical view would be that people are just leaving it up to God. But I think what’s happening here is we’re showing the opposite. It’s actually through the support from church that it can improve your health,” said Farah Allouch, epidemiology PhD student at the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Allouch and the team behind the study sent a questionnaire to 300 Black churchgoers in New Orleans. Through the answers, they discovered people who said that religion dramatically influences their health tended to have better health behaviors. The questionnaire also revealed that 70% of participants in the study reported that they had been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and about 50% also reported diabetes. Allouch believes structural racism and the unfortunate legacy of slavery in the United States have played a role in their condition.

The purpose of the study is to provide data to back up a more comprehensive study that would determine if a program that would lower the risk of heart disease in black churches would be effective. Allouch elaborates that the team intended to use the initial study to leverage the support and sense of community people already have within the church and their neighborhoods to try to maintain that program. Allouch has seen similar programs that did not last due to structure.

“I think a lot of the time, what ends up happening in these more community-based programs is the researchers come in, do the program, get the results, publish their papers, and then they’re out. Then, whenever that money goes out of the program, it’s not sustainable. 

In this study, we’re trying to leverage what already exists: this enormous sense of community. The immense feeling of people looking out for each other and trying to integrate that to lower that risk of heart disease,” said Allouch.

Another piece of information the study uncovered is Black churchgoers are aware that their health is in their hands. Dr. LaPrincess Brewer is a cardiologist and assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. She conducted a similar study in August 2022, and her findings uncovered that Black churchgoers are not just relying on faith to be healthy.

“Many of the participants we interact with in our studies have shared their strong faith and belief that God will care for them. However, rather than relying on God alone to heal them, they tend to view their health as something they need to work towards alongside God, strengthening their faith. In many of our focus group discussions, interviews, or participant testimonials, we’ve had individuals share that they feel empowered to improve their heart health to live the life God has intended for them,” said Dr. Brewer.

Dr. Brewer suggests incorporating health messaging in sermons and other worship services for those who want to improve the well-being of their church home and family. Dr.Brewer explains in the report sermons that emphasize unhealthy habits to avoid may provide a strong motive for churchgoers to adopt healthy lifestyles. Another interventional step to apply is blood pressure screenings at the church. Connecting people to primary care services and providing coaching and education programs on healthier eating and physical activities are more ideas to guide the congregation in a healthier direction. 

What’s next for Allouch and her team in the New Orleans study is preparing for a more comprehensive study. The group aims to recruit 1200 participants across 40 churches in New Orleans. With the data from this study, Allocuch and the team can determine what is sustainable and how it can be scaled. Their goal for all this work is to make a difference in the locals’ health.

“We’re trying to make it as easy as possible for folks to monitor their health to make small changes to their lifestyle that, hopefully, in the long term, they can sustain. And they can sustain as part of this larger community at the churches,” said Allouch.

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“Delay is deadly. The delay means the tobacco industry can continue to target Black communities and profit from the expense of Blacks and other lives. 45,000 Black Americans each year die, and if Black lives matter, we have to get rid of menthol cigarettes,” said Yolanda Richardson, President and CEO of the Campaign of Tobacco-Free Kids.

A message that was echoed by other Black leaders of civic, faith, and health organizations on the White House delay of banning Menthol cigarettes. Adams and other leaders gathered for a virtual press conference on Thursday, December 7, to express their united disappointment in the White House’s decision to delay the final rule prohibiting menthol cigarettes. As promised, the press conference also called on the administration to issue a final rule this year.

“There is no reason to delay. This policy has been studied for over 12 years, overwhelmingly supported by scientific evidence, and will save hundreds and thousands of lives. The White House must stand up to big tobacco and issue this life-saving rule,” said Richardson.

Cigarettes are responsible for killing 480,000 Americans each year, according to the CDC. Forty thousand of that number are Black Americans. In April 2022, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formally proposed a ban on menthol cigarettes to Congress. The original date for this to go into effect was August 2023. There have been several delays before it could happen. The latest one occurred Wednesday, December 6, without proper explanation. This delay raises concern and frustration because it comes two weeks after the tobacco industry and its lobbyists met with top officials at the White House.

“The ban should be instituted immediately. There are no civil rights institutions in support of menthol cigarettes. There are a bunch of people who are being paid to raise arguments that are fake and not in the best interest of the African American Community,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of NAACP.

Menthol cigarettes are more addictive than any other cigarette. Nicotine is the addictive component in cigarettes. According to the Campaign of Tobacco-Free Kids, menthol enhances the effects of nicotine on the brain, which makes it harder to quit. Menthol cigarettes cool and numb the throat. It masks the harshness of tobacco smoke, making it easier for kids to try smoking and eventually become addicted. The campaign also reveals over 60 years, the tobacco industry has intentionally targeted the Black community with marketing for menthol cigarettes. The result of their efforts has led to 85 percent of Black smokers using menthol cigarettes.

“The tobacco industry has targeted Black communities with menthol for tremendous profit by researching and appropriating black culture. From free mental health giveaways and ice cream truck-like vans in the 1960s to saturating urban neighborhoods with mental health advertising with low prices and coupons. Today, the industry has flooded and continues to target Black communities with this minty poison,” said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, founding director of the Center for Public Theology & Public Policy at Yale Divinity School.

The new target date to finalize the ban on menthol cigarettes is March 2024, according to the agenda released by the Biden administration. Banning Menthol cigarettes would be significant in saving lives in the Black community and closing the racial gap in lung cancer deaths.   

In an official statement from Campaign of Tobacco-Free Kids, The organization will continue to keep pressure on the White House through advertising, op-eds, mobilizing grassroots advocates to contact the White House and other tactics. We are making clear to the White House that Black organizations, elected officials, and other leaders nationwide strongly support a ban on menthol cigarettes. 

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Collegiate athletes are some of the healthiest people around. Being a college student and excelling in a sport at a level that rivals professionals would make anyone feel invincible. Among all the challenges they face, one threat to take caution with is Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). Kim Harmon is a professor at the University of Washington. She and her colleagues have done research on this subject for 20 years. According to Prof Harmon, the odds for this incident are 300 to 1, but with the proper preparation from new data released, everyone can play a part in minimizing this threat.

“Sudden Cardiac Death is the leading cause of non-accidental death in young people.

It happens more often than death from heat illness, death from head injuries, and death from sickle cell trait. This is something that we can potentially prevent,” said Harmon.

The American Heart Association released a report on Sudden Cardiac Death on November 13. The information features data collected by Harmon and other experts. According to the report, SCD happens when an electrical malfunction causes a rapid, irregular heart rhythm that stops the heart. The first cause that led to Harmon and a team of experts starting a 20-year study on this matter was in July 2002. Kayla Bert was a University of Washington women’s basketball team player.  On New Year’s Eve, hanging with her friends, Kayla collapsed because her heart stopped beating from a cardiac arrest, according to The New Yorker. She needed medical attention, and one of her friends performed CPR until the paramedics arrived. The professionals were able to revive her, but the result of that incident led to Kayla getting an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

“I had two questions. One is, what did I miss? And how often does this happen? I started looking into it more seriously at that point. In the United States, there’s no mandatory reporting for sudden cardiac death or arrest of an athlete. We picked the NCAA population one because of the population of interest to me. Still, also they’re high profile athletes for the most part, and we have several different sources where we can find cases,” said Harmon.

The report reveals college male basketball players had the highest incidence rate of SCD. Black male basketball players are three times more likely to experience SCD than white basketball players. Men, in general, are at risk four times higher than women.  Dr. Shelley Miyamoto is a director of the Cardiomyopathy Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora. She says some disparities need further study, and genetic testing should be pursued to get the results.

“Genetic testing may potentially provide some answers for why an athlete died suddenly, and it may also provide some insight into whether other family members could be at risk. If we can’t understand the cause of the sudden cardiac death, it is going to be difficult for people to accept and understand how to prevent it in the future.” Dr. Miyamoto said in the report.

The positive news from the study was that the numbers of SCD are down.

Over the 20 years, Harmon and her team looked at 1102 autopsy reports and medical histories of NCAA athletes. Only 143 cases were caused by sudden cardiac death. Harmon credits people being trained in CPR and the ability to recognize cardiac arrest for the drop in numbers. 

“The new thing in this study is that the rate has decreased over the last ten years. We don’t think that’s because this doesn’t occur frequently. We think that it’s probably gone down because we’re better at treating, recognizing, and sudden cardiac death in athletes,” said Harmon.

There are a few signs of a cardiac arrest Harmon recommends to look out for.  

If an athlete feels chest pains, making them stop exercising is one sign. Another sign is if they faint while exercising.  Harmon also encourages getting an expert if an athlete has weird heartbeats that cause them to stop exercising or have them lightheaded. Another preventive step for parents is having their athlete screened with an electric cardiogram (EKG) machine. Most universities have EKG machines to screen their athletes. More information about SCD and other related topics can be found at https://orccastudy.org/

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Parents play a huge role in the growth of children. The values and characteristics of moms and dads are significant in who their children become. One transfer that is not discussed enough but is big enough to make a difference is the healthy behaviors of the father. How healthy a dad and his habits are does play a role in how healthy his children become. Dr. James Muchira is an assistant professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tennessee. He studies how cardiovascular disease is transmitted from parents to their children. In his experience, the most significant factor in outcomes is the health of the father and the habits he instills in the kids. He explains how Dads becoming active with their children today will lead to strong, healthy adults tomorrow. 

“Fathers will do anything possible to ensure their kids do well financially and academically. It’s also important for fathers to ensure their kids are healthy so they can enjoy the benefits of success in those spheres. We cannot leave this to the mothers or other caregivers. Fathers must step up and play their role effectively,” said Dr. Muchira.

The American Heart Association released a report about the importance of fathers in children’s health. The report states most of the risk of chronic disease, including cardiovascular disease, is not genetic; the risk comes from socioeconomic factors like where a child grows up and what they are eating, along with education. How children pick up habits is complex, but the more positive examples children see, the better habits they form into adulthood. Dr. Murchira’s research shows how parents’ lifestyle choices translate to their children. He shares how fathers taking their young children out for walks will develop the joy of walking in the kids. If children see their fathers eating healthy, it will become easier for them to eat healthy.

“Model behavior has to be reinforced through reciprocity. If the father is not doing good health practices themselves, the kids will probably won’t either because they will easily see what their father is doing,” said Dr. Muchira.

Dr. Muchira’s research also revealed that the offspring of fathers with bad cardiovascular health are at a higher risk of getting cardiovascular disease. Those children have a nine percent higher chance of getting a stroke or heart disease compared to children of a healthy father.

Fathers developing a solid bond with their children makes it easier to follow positive behaviors. According to Dr. Muchira, when a father doesn’t have a strong bond with his children, they will not take him seriously when advised to exercise and eat healthily. 

Informing children why they need to eat healthy and exercise will assist in fathers shaping good behaviors. Dr. Muchira explains in the report that children need to know why they are doing what they’re doing. Parents who do things without the kids learning will not see the point. Fathers sharing their numbers regarding BMI, blood pressure, and cholesterol with their children can illustrate why.

With the holidays quickly approaching, fathers can use this season to make active plans with their children to connect and build holiday memories. Dr. Muchira shares that kids face environmental stressors around them, such as bullies and challenging school assignments. Exercise can be a buffer against that. Dads can turn the holiday chorus into a game or Geocaching. These activities can sometimes be more memorable than the gifts. 

“We don’t want to dissuade people from buying gifts. Those are important to show kids they are appreciated. In this environment, It’s important to spend quality time with kids. Children are exposed to many things we don’t know and will never tell us. As an alternative to buying gifts, take them on a trip. That will help bring down their environmental stress,” said Dr. Muchira.

Above all, Fathers need to try. The report states there is no perfect parenting, but holding impossible standards and guilt regarding this matter doesn’t help anyone. 

“We want them to be able to enjoy life longer. It may not be possible to prevent a child from ever having heart disease, but instilling healthy values can lengthen the time they live without it,” said Dr. Muchira.

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Nursing homes are the environment that takes care of the elderly and brings peace of mind to the caregivers. This precious space is facing one critical issue of being understaffed. According to The American Healthcare Association, 84 percent of nursing homes have been reported to be understaffed. Dr. Jasmine Travers is a gerontological nurse practitioner and an assistant professor of nursing at New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She has been exploring this subject and explains why this is a matter that should have everyone’s attention.

“Just think about the nursing home setting. When we have these numbers we say: This is the number to provide the safest amount of care—when we don’t have that number that means we might not have a sufficient number of nursing assistants, for example, to answer call bells. If we don’t have that number that we need to answer call bells and respond to residents’ needs, that means residents are going to sit in need of help for longer periods.” said Dr. Travers.

Nursing home staffing affects the quality of care for the residents. Lack of care in nursing homes can lead to severe consequences for the elderly community. The staff of nursing homes are the people who get the elderly out of bed, clean them, and attend to personal needs they can’t do themselves. When these tasks are not done Some nursing home residents suffer. Some fall because they try to get out of bed themselves, and some get urinary tract infections because nobody assisted them using the bathroom and they were sitting in their spoilage.

“ If a person doesn’t have someone to get them out of bed, sometimes they might try to get up and out of bed themselves. When they do that they could be at risk for falling or if they stay in bed and they’re soiled, they’re at increased risk for UTIs or increased risk for pressure ulcers. So these are the types of things that we see as a consequence of decreased staffing, which is an important issue that we need to address.” said Dr. Travers

Dr. Travers shares that there are 15,000 nursing homes across the country and approximately 1.2 million individuals living in them. To provide an adequate amount of care, the total nursing hours should be about 4.1 hours per resident per day. This includes the registered nurse, the licensed practical nurse, and the certified nursing assistants according to a study from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Unfortunately, only 25 percent of total nursing homes are reaching this benchmark.

The Covid 19 pandemic played a role in the staff shortage. Dr.Travers elaborates that the pandemic affected occupancy in all nursing homes. Fewer residents in nursing homes meant a decrease in revenue for facilities. The decreased revenue means facilities can not afford the staff on hand and that limits the care that can be provided to the nursing home residents. A group that was hit the hardest with this problem is nursing homes located in underserved communities. Dr. Travers goes into detail about how the socioeconomic level of a nursing home affects the desirability for residents to live in and professionals to work in.

“If there’s lack of transportation in a more severely deprived setting, then a person most likely isn’t going to work in a nursing home in that setting or live in that If housing is poor, if education is poor it may not be a desirable place to work. If a nursing home is located in these types of areas, we just might see fewer resources that are provided to those nursing homes to be able to create better working environments and provide better opportunities for better care for residents—which further just decreases someone’s desirability to want to work in that nursing homes” said Dr. Travers

Two solutions Dr. Travers does see for the staff shortage issue are supporting the current staff of professionals working in nursing homes and making the career field more desirable for people to join. Incentives are one way to support those professionals. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced reimbursements and loan forgiveness for professionals who work in nursing homes in underserved areas. Dr. Travers encourages higher pay to keep current nursing home professionals and bring in new individuals. She also believes organizations should put effort into retention.

“We’re focused on meeting minimum staffing levels, but we’re not as focused on decreasing turnover. Turnover is associated with the work environment at these nursing homes. We need to change the work environment so people will stay. When people stay longer, they know their residents more. That consistency translates to better quality of care for the nursing home residents,” said Dr. Travers.

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CPR is a life-saving skill. It is easy to learn, the knowledge is accessible, and it makes a difference in the outcome of a cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, not everyone has this skill under their belt. Studies have shown about 50 percent of people don’t know CPR. The American Heart Association (AHA) encourages everyone to gain this skill. CPR is a tool to utilize during sudden medical emergencies. 

According to the AHA, roughly 350,000 adults experience cardiac arrest outside of [1] the hospital in the United States. AHA’s research also reveals that people in low-income and predominantly Black neighborhoods are less likely to receive bystander CPR than those in predominantly white communities with higher income, and women are less likely to receive CPR than men. Learning this technique is not just for you. It is for the people around you.

“CPR is the superpower you have to help somebody in a dire situation. You are trained and ready to intervene to be of help. It’s like reading, writing, driving or swimming. It’s a skill you take for your whole life that is not for you; it’s for somebody else,” said Denise Levy, National senior director for professional membership at the American Heart Association.

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This method involves resurrecting the heart to get blood flowing through the body.  When a person is unresponsive, another individual needs to put their hands on the person’s chest. From there, they need to push down the trunk with force to initiate the start of the heart. The conscious individual must repeat this action until the person awakens or medical professionals arrive.

“An emergency does not discriminate. Sudden cardiac arrest affects anyone of all ages, sizes, and ethnicities,” said Denise Dawkins, registered nurse and CPR instructor.

“We reviewed a lot of cases that were simple and preventable. People die for the most ridiculous reasons because others are afraid to do what they need to or don’t know how,” said Dawkins.

The AHA advocates on the state and local levels to get more people to learn CPR. 

CPR is not mandatory to learn in public schools, but the AHA has partnered with school districts for initiatives to encourage students to learn. Initiatives like Jump rope and heart help for kids exemplify their efforts. AHA has partnered with the NFL for NFL Play 60 to influence people to understand the life-saving method.

The latest and possibly the most memorable example of CPR’s necessity was in January 2023. NFL Safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on[2]  the field during a Monday Night Football Game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. Damar is only 25 and suffered a cardiac arrest from a blow to the chest. Millions of fans at the stadium and watching from home were silent and praying for him as medical professionals used CPR and an AED defibrillator. Demar Survived and became an advocate for CPR.

“He is living proof that CPR works. People hear about CPR, but we all saw it on Monday Night Football that it saved a life. His outcome is because he received the right medical intervention when needed,” said Levy.

“Because of his position, which personally happened to him, Damar Hamlin impacts those who watch and listen to him. Because of what happened to Damar, I heard institutions implement CPR as a part of their regular certification amongst the employees. I think this impact sheds a light on CPR and its value to sustain and save a life,” said Dawkins.

CPR is a technique that makes a difference during a cardiac arrest. Levy and Dawkins reinforce that possessing this skill can save the lives of many when it’s time to intervene. More information on CPR and where to learn it can be found on Heart.org.  

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“We want our congresspeople and senators to see the faces that cancer touches. This is not about dollars and cents. It’s about humanity. The humane thing to do is ensure people have what they need to fight this disease. It’s going to come down to research, funding, and the presented bills that will affect cancer as we know it,” said Flecia Brown, cancer survivor and volunteer for the American Cancer Society.

A heartfelt message from Georgia resident Flecia Brown. She is among the many passionate volunteers who traveled to Washington, D.C., for the American Cancer Society and Cancer Action Network’s Leadership Summit and Lobby Day. This annual event gathers cancer survivors and advocates from across the U.S. to get in front of congressional leaders and senators to push for bills to help fight against cancer. This space is also where education about cancer is shared and touching stories of caregivers and survivors are revealed.

“I’m 63. I’m here today because of an early diagnosis of Cancer when I was 39 years old. If I hadn’t been screened and tested, I wouldn’t have been able to call my late wife when she took her last breath on this planet. I would not have seen my youngest daughter graduate from law school to become a successful attorney. I would not have seen my son graduate from West Point, and I would have not remarried to the beautiful Patrice who completes my life. None of that would have happened,” said James Williams Jr.,  cancer survivor and director of Federal Affairs for the American Cancer Society and Cancer Action Network.

The American Cancer Society and Cancer Action Network (ACN-CAN) Leadership Summit and Lobby Day took place September 17 to the 20 in Washington D.C. Over 700 members of the American Cancer Society who are survivors and advocates traveled to the capital to lobby for bills that will provide more funding and resources for cancer research. ACN-CAN has done the summit for over 20 years. Their efforts increased funding for the National Institute of Health, the National Cancer Institute, and the CDC in 2022. ACN-CAN was also influential in passing the Affordable Care Act in 2010.   

In 2023, the organization advocated for three bills to be passed in Congress. First, congress will provide robust and increased funding for cancer research to $51 billion for the National Institute of Health, including $9.98 billion for the National Cancer Institute and $472.4 million for the CDC cancer programs. Next, increased access to prostate cancer screening for high-risk individuals, including Black men with the highest death rate for prostate cancer of any racial or ethnic group in the U.S. Finally, a pathway to coverage for innovative cancer early detection tests in Medicare.

“Right now, there are only five cancers for which they’re screening: prostate, breast, lung, colorectal and cervical. Legislation will provide a pathway for the MCD test. This test can screen for dozens of cancers from a single blood draw. This will be a game changer for so many Americans,” said Williams.

A hurdle that has made the road more difficult for cancer survivors and their caregivers is expensive co-pays. Even with quality insurance, some individuals still have to pay high co-pays. According to Williams, expensive co-pays have hindered Black people from getting proper cancer screening. Prostate cancer occurs in Black men three times more than other races. Black men also die of prostate cancer seven times more than anyone else. Medical copays for cancer screening are the more significant factor regarding these statistics.  

The 118 Congress is scheduled to end on January 3, 2025. That is when we will see the results of the lobbying members of ACN-CAN have done. What’s following after the summit and the lobby day is more grassroots outreach in cities and towns. The volunteers of ACN-CAN will return home to educate locals about the laws and policies their state currently has on cancer research. They will also inform locals what bills must be voted on and which civic leader they must contact. 

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A trait that many Black people have in common is resilience. Part of the reason why is that most people of color are combating racism in its many forms on a daily basis.  Whether it’s dealing with systemic racism or the microaggressions that occur in the workplace. Some Black people are reaching their limits. This leads to exhaustion or what can also be known as “Black Fatigue”. 

Black Fatigue levels have been reported on by the American Heart Association. Experts weigh in on how this subject is taking a toll on Black community and why we should not underestimate it.   

“You should take Black Fatigue seriously, because it’s killing people. It’s killing their mind, body and spirit. We are misdiagnosed, in terms of some of the mental stresses and oftentimes told that our pain is not as great ” said Mary Frances Winters, CEO and founder of the Winters Group Incorporated.

Black Fatigue is the exhaustion from small acts of aggression and disrespect Black people endure on a daily basis. Other stressors that lead to Black Fatigue are the endless need to prove one’s worth and constant exposure to news about injustice and violence being inflicted on people of color. Winters describes the feeling of Black Fatigue as “a dull droning sound that is always present”. Winters is an expert in Diversity Equity and Inclusion. She released a book called Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind Body and Spirit in 2020. The book explores this subject more and reveals why this problem has been perpetuated. 

“I was going into organizations to do training, and strategy sessions about diversity, equity and inclusion. Younger Black people would approach me and say that they’re exhausted and tired of having to deal with the microaggressions in the workplace. I was like, “You’re 25 years old, how are you tired already?” They gave me a look, but with respect, they responded “Hey I know but I’m tired.” If these young people in the workplace are fatigued, at 25, 30 years old, that means this is an intergenerational problem that has been perpetuated over and over,” said Winters.

One symptom of Black Fatigue is high levels of stress. Too much stress can play a role in heart disease and diabetes among other ailments. Black Fatigue also taps into one’s feelings of inadequacy. According to the report, psychotherapist Aishia Grevenberg says Black Fatigue will have one internalizing the stereotype of deficiency. Many Black professionals feel the pressure to prove they are worthy. Grevenberg and her clients were raised with the narrative they’d have to be twice as good to be considered half as good.

The Center of Disease Control (CDC) recognized that racism is a threat to public health. The American Heart Association has another report from 2020 that discusses how structural racism-based stress can lead to long-lasting damage to the body and brain. Winters believes medical schools and institutions need to highlight the relationship between racism and our health outcomes. A recent moment of Black Fatigue Winters felt was her discomfort of going to the store after the Dollar General shooting in Jacksonville, Florida.

“I think we sometimes as people don’t even recognize the relationship between racism and our physical, mental and spiritual well-being. I was in a dollar general store thinking in the back of my mind “wow three people were killed at a dollar general store last week just because they were Black.” That is extra unnecessary stress just for going outside,” said Winters.

Black Fatigue is a complex issue with no simple solution. Winters says solving the Black Fatigue problem involves changing the whole system. Steps one can apply is to know your triggers. Winters set boundaries for herself by not watching anything about racism because she needs a reprieve from the race related work, she does every day. Winters encourages finding your triggers and walking away from them with no guilt. Grevenberg recommends rest and giving yourself permission to back away from the pursuit of perfection. 

“Rest is a protest. It’s revolutionary and it’s a sign that says I am human. I tell every single person I work with, ‘Have a snack and take a nap,’ Grebenberg says in the report.

For those who want to be an ally against this issue. Listening to your colleagues of color is a great step. Grevenberg explains in the report that being an ally is about providing a safe presence, someone who can validate experiences. She further explains Being present while listening and asking questions for understanding. 

The post Recognizing the Exhaustion: Black Fatigue is an Enduring Problem for People of Color   appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.

Medical professionals encounter stressful situations throughout their careers. Depending on the frequency of those situations, those professionals may reach their limit and hit burnout faster than most. Martha Janiver is a retired family nurse practitioner who pivoted into owning an assisted living facility (ALF). Her ALF is called Peace of his Cornerstone, it is in Miami, FL. She shifted into this business venture that is less intense but just as rewarding in the medical field. After successfully being in business for four years, Janvier is now teaching individuals how they can open an assisted living facility in her program Strategic Success 316.

“Caring for the senior community changed my life. I understand people a lot more, and I call what I do philanthropic work. This is not just any type of business; it is changing lives, not just the elderly, but the family members, the caregivers that come with it,” said Martha Janvier, CEO of Strategic Success 316.

Janvier founded Strategic Success 316 in November 2022. The company is a coaching and consulting firm that provides information to people who want to establish and operate assisted living facilities. Their flagship course, How to Open an ALF, costs $1,000 and is self-paced. After completing the program and doing all the required registrations and permitting, anyone can launch their facility in a year and a half.

Janvier committed to this direction after working through the pandemic. She opened Peace of his Cornerstone in 2019 and quickly gained patients for the facility. When the pandemic happened, she took a year-long break from nursing to manage the ALF. When she returned to nursing, Janvier reached high levels of stress and anxiety. She decided it was no longer worth it and instead dealt with the pressures of the ALF. In May 2023, she retired from nursing.

Commitment and capital are two things one should possess to get started on this path.

Launching Peace of His Cornerstone took Janiver two years and $30,000. She already had furnished property, but the licensing and permitting took time because she figured it out by trial and error. Other steps involved with launching this venture are checking with the zoning department in your area, installing the right equipment in the facility, and hiring the right staff to take care of older adults. Janvier offers help on any of these steps through Strategic Success 316. Janvier says people can earn six figures within a year of opening this recession-proof business.

“Whatever is going on in the world, seniors will always need somewhere to stay, and seniors will always need assistance. The housing crisis that is going on has a lot of them resorting to assisted living facilities. There are a lot of seniors where their social security income or pension cannot maintain the cost of living.” said Janvier.

Staffing is a vital factor in the success of one’s ALF. According to Janvier, the wrong caregiver on your team can drive away current facility residents, regardless of everything else. Staff is one of the details that brought Paul Robert to Janiver’s ALF. Roberts placed his mother in the Peace of His Cornerstone living facility in 2019. Roberts is the Vice chairman of the board of directors for Jessie Trice Community Health Services in Miami, FL. He is aware of how things should run in an ALF and how caregiving is a passion one needs to have to do this work.

“Everybody can’t provide healthcare. Everyone is not a caregiver. It’s something that is within you to really be a caregiver. The sacrifice you must make to provide service to somebody else is above nothing else,” said Roberts 

“In some facilities, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving my mother there. I felt like they were turnstiles to make money and not to take care of the client. Martha never gave me the impression,” said Roberts.

What’s next for Janiver is getting more people into this line of work. She believes the more individuals she trains to open ALFs, the more significant impact she makes on the healthcare industry and the senior community. 

“Owning a quality assisted living facility means building generational wealth for your children and grandchildren. Owning an assisted living facility also means changing the healthcare industry by lowering unnecessary death rates in the senior community. Contact me so I can teach you how to maintain the lives of others,” said Janiver.    

The post Assembling a Home: Strategic Success 316 Teaches How to Open an Assisted Living Facility appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.