On April 9, 2025, SAPHA organized a panel discussion, “From Awareness to Action: Advancing Cancer Prevention in South Asian Communities” in observance of Cancer Control Month in April. The panel also marked the observance of National Public Health Week from April 7 – 13, 2025.
Salma Shariff-Marco, PhD, MPH, Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California San Francisco and prior SAPHA Board member; Nishith Pandya, BA, Director of Federal Advocacy at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc.; Farshid Haque, MS, President of the Sacramento Area Bangladeshi-American Association (SABAA) and Founder of Ellipsis Health; and Swaminathan Iyer, MD, Professor of Medicine and Lymphoma and Myeloma specialist at the MD Anderson Cancer Center and President of the Indo-American Cancer Association, participated in the panel discussion. SAPHA Board Member and Fundraising Co-Chair Minal Patel, MPH, moderated the panel. SAPHA President Samira Khan shared an overview of SAPHA’s vision and mission.
The discussion focused on trends and disparities in cancer incidence among South Asian communities, barriers to cancer screening and prevention, and the role of cultural beliefs and stigma on health behaviors.
Panelists highlighted the unique cancer burden in South Asian communities, with oral cavity, thyroid, and uterine cancers being particularly prevalent. The panelists also noted the low screening rates and vaccination participation among South Asian communities, which contribute to the cancer burden. They emphasized the need for culturally relevant interventions, community involvement in designing solutions, and improved awareness campaigns. The conversation also included the importance of addressing social determinants of health, improving healthcare provider training, mental health support, and creating targeted education programs that consider the diverse backgrounds and experiences within South Asian communities. Panelists also discussed legislative efforts and highlighted the importance of advocacy and awareness in addressing health inequities.
Dr. Salma Sharif-Marco mentioned the newly launched ASPIRE study that aims to follow 20,000+ Asian Americans over time to study health and cancer. She stated that this study is open to all Asian-American ethnic groups because their data has not yet been adequately represented in cohort studies for cancer and encouraged attendees to visit the website and sign up if they want to help
The discussion concluded with a call to action for individuals and organizations to get involved in cancer prevention efforts to improve health outcomes for South Asians living in the United States.
