Cancer disparities are seen with cancers that disproportionately affect underrepresented minorities and the medically underserved This is very important since by 2043 the so-called “minority” populations will become the majority Among AA we see disparities in women with breast cancer AA women had a lower incidence until 2015 but continue to have a higher mortality rate Triple negative BC is particularly common among AA women and is associated with decreased overall survival Prostate cancer mortality rate in AA men is now 2 4 times greater than WM Racial disparities in Colorectal cancer death rates are also seen and may be explained by differences in the use, availability and quality of screening and treatment services What are the root causes of racial inequities in cancer care: - socioeconomics - limitations in access to quality healthcare But all of this is due to systemic racism which created this environment There is also the financial toxicity of cancer care in the US Access to the best diagnostics and treatment are dictated by access to: - private or specific types of insurance - access to significant financial resources This is seen with the lack of access of AA to PET/CT scans at diagnosis for lung cancer which is associated with an improved outcome from treatment Again, all of which is related to systemic racism and social injustices seen in the US We also see racial inequities in cancer research There is a lack of diversity in clinical trials due to low participation of minorities (3-5%) As a result, most of our studies are based on tumor tissue that lacks diversity but becomes the basis for definitive treatment of cancer in all patients The Covid-19 pandemic has truly revealed to the world disparities in our healthcare in the US A virus that we are all susceptible to disproportionately affects people of color Findings just released in the Lancet from the Covid-19 & Cancer consortium has revealed that cancer patients with Covid die at 3x the rate of noncancer patients with the disease Solutions include increasing diversity among health professionals which improves access to health care for everyone Finally, in order to overcome disparities and achieve equity and inclusion for all we need to breakdown RACISM!
Cancer Disparities: Biology, Environment/Lifestyle or All