The Fight for Equitable Cancer Care in African American Communities It starts by recognizing cancer disparities unique to each population.
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ebruary is Black History Month, making this an important time to note the racial disparities that exist in cancer care and research. Race is an underlying determinant that can put certain populations at higher risk of being diagnosed with certain cancers. Because of the genetic makeup of tumors, cancer affects individuals differently. Other factors that alter the way an individual experiences cancer besides sex and gender include lifestyle, geography and income among others. These are explained as the social determinants of health or, more specifically, cancer disparities. African Americans are part of one of the largest minority populations in the United States. This group also reports the highest cancer mortality rate, despite
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Inside the Network
the decline in cancer incidence rates, of any other racial population. These striking statistics have become the basis for the drive across the healthcare industry to implement initiatives to reduce healthcare disparities and ensure every individual has equitable access to the care they need to treat their disease at every stage. For example, black people have higher death rates than members of all other ethnic groups for certain types of cancer, specifically multiple myeloma and prostate cancer. Additionally, black women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer and inflammatory breast cancer. Furthermore, they are at higher risk for developing lung and colorectal cancers. Black men are diagnosed more often with lung and bronchus cancer as well as prostate, colon and rectum cancers than other populations.
