Grant to help cut cancer in minorities

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center will receive a 2.5 million dollar National Cancer Institute grant. <br/><br/>The grant will allow the center to work with American

Saturday, May 7th 2005, 11:33 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center will receive a 2.5 million dollar National Cancer Institute grant.

The grant will allow the center to work with American Indian tribes and poor, black communities to reduce high cancer rates.

OU Cancer Center faculty member Doctor Laura Beebe says there are disproportionately high rates of cancer among certain ethnic-minority groups.

OU health care practitioners will be addressing cancer-causing risk factors and behaviors, including cigarette smoking, unhealthy eating habits, obesity and limited physical activity.

OU nurses, doctors and epidemiologists will be working with members of the Cherokee and Choctaw tribes, as well as several black communities in Oklahoma.

The five-year grant was announced yesterday.