Abstract B051: Baseline characteristics from the c-CARE initiative: A faith-based approach to advancing cancer prevention and equity in underserved communities

Abstract Background: The cancer-Community Awareness, Access, Research, 200 mg/dL, and 10.4% had non-fasting glucose levels 125 mg/dL. Additionally, 8% of participants reported current tobacco use, and 21.2% identified as former smokers. Preliminary analyses revealed notable gaps in cancer screening adherence and healthcare engagement: 14.3% had never undergone colorectal cancer screening, 50% of male participants had never received a PSA test for prostate cancer, 10% of female participants had never had a mammogram for breast cancer, and 27% endorsed fatalistic beliefs about cancer. Nevertheless, 80% of participants expressed comfort in discussing cancer-related concerns with their physician. Conclusions: Baseline findings from the C-CARE initiative highlight the effectiveness of leveraging faith-based settings to engage medically underserved populations in cancer prevention efforts. The results underscore the critical role of culturally tailored, community-anchored strategies in reducing cancer disparities and advancing health equity. This data will inform ongoing implementation and evaluation of the program and may be replicable in other studies across different geographic areas. Citation Format: Marlo Vernon, Meng-Han Tsai, Kiara Houston, Martha Tingen. Baseline characteristics from the c-CARE initiative: A faith-based approach to advancing cancer prevention and equity in underserved communities abstract. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B051.