Walking forward: a program designed to lower cancer mortality rates among American Indians in western South Dakota

Walking Forward is a community-based participatory research program in western South Dakota funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The primary goal of this initiative is to address the high and ominously increasing cancer mortality rates among American Indians by facilitating access to innovative clinical trials, behavioral and genetic research and tailored patient navigation. The critical outcomes include: an unprecedented accrual rate of 25 percent in clinical trials, including cancer treatment and cancer control trials; a significant reduction in the number of missed treatment days among navigated American Indian cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy; and most importantly, establishment of trusting partnerships with the American Indian communities as reflected in enrollment in a genetic study involving the ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene. The results indicate that the Walking Forward approach presents an effective strategy to overcome the barriers to cancer care in this underserved community.