A San Antonio lawmaker addressed the public Tuesday on a serious health issue affecting minorities: cancer.
April is designated as "Minority Cancer Awareness Month."
State Representative Ruth Jones McClendon, a cancer survivor, spoke in front of City Hall about the issue.
"It's not a death sentence, but I can assure you it will be unless you get it taken care of," said McClendon.
She passed a bill in 2011 to devote April as the month to focus on the issue.
It's a time to reach out to minorities who are often diagnosed at a later cancer stage and as a result, die sooner.
African Americans with cancer have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any other race or ethnicity.
Meanwhile, Hispanics are also less likely to see a doctor and more likely to have cancer detected at a later stage, when it's harder to treat.
For more information Minority Cancer Awareness month and statistics on minority cancer rates, click here.