Nurses Can Help Mitigate Prostate Cancer Disparities

February 18, 2019

Maggie A. Smith is a director-at-large for the national Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), as well as nominating-chair and immediate-past president of the Chicago Chapter of ONS. Her clinical and research interest include being a voice for underrepresented and underserved populations. She is also, involved in community outreach and breast health education.

Disparities exist across many cancer types, but they are particularly prevalent in patients with prostate cancer, explained Maggie A. Smith, DNP, MSN/Ed, RN, OCN, field medical director in GU Oncology at Pfizer, and Oncology Nursing News contributor.

African American men have some of the highest incidences and mortality rates from prostate cancer. To address this, oncology nurses can push for more inclusion in clinical trials, and educate their African American patients on the disease and prevention.