To: Vivian Paige

Thanks so much for letting the community know that Hampton University is on the verge of developing a world-class cancer treatment and research facility in Virginia. As I understand it, the project is now ahead of construction plans with expectations of completing development by 2010 this facility is poised to take on the challenge of fighting one of America’s leading cause of death, which is cancer. Hampton University’s $225 million investment in the development of a cutting-edge, high technology cancer therapy and research facility is real testimony to the leadership President William Harvey and the wealth and power of an academic institution that has been correctly labeled the “Black Harvard University” in America.

Cancer affects people of all racial and ethnic groups. One in four deaths in the United States is due to cancer, and one in three Virginians will eventually develop some form of cancer. Because health disparities are a huge issue in Virginia, the burden of cancer is too often greater for the poor and African Americans, than for the general population. As an example:

• the death rate for prostate cancer is 2.4 times higher in black men than in white men,
• black men are two to three times more likely to die from the disease,
• Chesapeake has the highest incidence of colon cancer in America,
• Norfolk has the highest incidence of prostrate cancer in America, with Richmond slight behind and
• breast cancer is 1.4 times more deadly for black women than for white women.

No, the cure has not been found, however, research capabilities at Hampton University’s facility will go a long way in finding remedies. More importantly, great steps are being taken to enhance cancer therapy and the technology is here and ready for expansion. Proton therapy over the last years has become the alternative treatment for many forms of cancers, including eye, spinal, prostate and breast cancer. This non-invasive treatment has been in use on a limited/exclusive basis for about 15 years, with the first hospital in America center opening in 1991 at the Loma Linda University Medical Center. Since then, this technology has continued to evolve and most experts agree that proton therapy treatment is by far the best — its precision, minimal side effects and results…… are only a short list of its capabilities and promise.

As the former member of the National Advisor Council on Minority Health and Health Disparities, a current member of the Virginia Board of Medical Assistance Services (Medicaid), and a former member of the Virginia Board of Health Professions, I salute Dr. William Harvey, and extend my support for developing this cutting-edge therapy cancer center in Virginia. This facility will benefit the health, safety and welfare of all Virginians and especially important to the African American community in a time where cancer health disparities are approaching intolerable death rates.

Finally, while the question of economics is of course secondary to the lives that will be saved, Hampton University’s Proton Therapy facility will become an economic, social and educational asset that will only increase over time as proton technology, research and cancer therapy treatments evolve. This will benefit all Virginians but none more than the black men and women in African American community where cancer has truly become epidemic.

We should all welcome this achievement by a prestigious and world-class academic and research institution of higher learning that celebrates excellence while dreaming big dreams; but more importantly backing it all up with action and results. In this case, Hampton University’s capital investment, of nearly a quarter of a billion dollars ($225,000,000.00), is the largest ever made in Virginia, since 1409, by a black-owned business or institution.

Terone B. Green
12109 Stratford Glen Drive
Richmond, Va. 23233
tgreen@cvhn.com