According to a recent review of cancer treatment and patient outcomes, black cancer patients are almost twice as likely to die from their disease than other races. This is especially true for cancers that are the most treatable when caught early enough, such as colorectal cancer in men and uterine cancer in women.
In fact, black patients tend to be diagnosed at more advanced stages and the care they receive is often substandard compared to the care received by patients of other races. Furthermore, many hospitals that see more black patients than most tend to be short of the resources available at other hospitals.
While researchers acknowledge the complexity of the problem, they recommend policy changes, such as "expanding public insurance systems to make cancer care more affordable, particularly to people of lower socioeconomic status, which often disproportionately includes minorities."
By Ross Bonander
WHERE WAS THIS RESEARCH PERFORMED?
The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.
SOURCE(S)
University of Michigan Newsroom
Citation
Arden M. Morris, Kim F. Rhoads, Steven C. Stain, John D. Birkmeyer. "Understanding Racial Disparities in Cancer Treatment and Outcomes." Journal of the American College of Surgeons. July 2010 (Vol. 211, Issue 1, Pages 105-113, DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2010.02.051)
