Fighting for Survival: Conquering Cancer and the African American Patient
There’s no doubt that medicine has made incredible strides in treating, and even curing, cancers. But there’s a portion of the population that’s missing out on these medical advances–African Americans. Dr. Fitzroy Dawkins wants to change that. He wants African Americans to fully embrace all that research and medicine has to offer, so they can fight and cure their cancers instead of succumbing to them.
There are many reasons why African Americans shy away from the medical industrial complex: Tuskegee, Henrietta Lacks, fear, denial, not wanting to be a “guinea pig.” But so much has changed in medical protocols over the past fifty years that these fears are no longer valid. And yet, African American cancer patients have essentially sidelined themselves from finding a cure.
Fighting for Survival is Dr. Dawkins’ love letter to African American cancer patients; his plea for them to fully participate in all possible healing opportunities, so they can conquer cancer.
Endorsements
“Dr. Dawkins has written a book that offers hope in the midst of despair. It’s a book about overcoming the odds. It reveals a better future for African Americans through the promise of clinical trials.”
Reverend Samuel Bryan
ACPE Certified Educator Advent Health Systems
“The book our culture needed!…A pointed reminder of our obligation to not only remember the painful lessons of Tuskegee, but to also actively participate in clinical research, ensuring that future breakthroughs include representation from minority communities.”
William Garrett, Sr. MBA
SVP, Global Clinical Operations, US Business Operations at Ascentage Pharma
Reviews
“He provides a stirring call for everyone to have the opportunity to receive cutting edge care for cancer, and for universities and pharmaceutical companies to include all segments of society in their research programs. He challenges the historically disadvantaged to fight to receive the top notch medical care that they deserve. This is not a depressing diatribe but rather an inspirational message that will fill you with optimism and courage to face the future with hope and to work hard to achieve what is best for you, your family, and your community.”
Victor
“Written by a caring and dedicated African American oncologist, Dr. explains the multiple reasons why black patients remain underrepresented in clinical trials. This is not simply a call for underrepresented minorities to altruistically benefit future patients and the for profit biopharmaceutical companies, but importantly to benefit themselves by receiving either the best available current therapies or possibly more effective and better tolerated investigational therapies. While these issues are most important to African Americans, all potential patients and their families could benefit from better understanding the value of participation in clinical trials. Written with the use of endearing anecdotes of real patients, this excellent and understandable book should be of read by health care professionals, policy makers, patients and families of all races and backgrounds.”
Levy
Fitzroy Dawkins, M.D. 