Racial Gap in Cancer Mortality Stubbornly Persists
In statistics almost unchanged from those in 1981, blacks have been found to be significantly more likely to develop and die of cancer than whites, a recent study revealed. And blacks, once diagnosed with cancer, don’t live as long as their white counterparts. In a study co-authored by Ahmedin Jemal, strategic director for cancer occurrence at the American Cancer Society (ACS), it was shown that while cancer death rates have fallen for everyone in recent decades, the gap between whites and blacks is about the same as 28 years ago.
Black women today have a 16 percent higher death rate from cancer than white women, whereas in 1981 the rate was 14 percent higher. Among black men, the cancer death rate is 33 percent greater today than in white men, virtually the same as in 1981.
The racial gap persists, according to Peter Bach of New York’s Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (who was not involved in the ACS study), because blacks tend to be diagnosed at more advanced, less curable cancer stages than whites. In addition, blacks are not as likely as whites to receive top-flight medical attention.
Bach showed in a seminal 2004 study that physicians who treated blacks weren’t as likely to possess board certification, and frequently didn’t have access to crucially important diagnostic imaging tests and specialists. Additionally, according to Jemal, blacks have a greater chance of being poor and poorly educated.
The ACS report found that education level in particular had the greatest effect on cancer survival for both blacks and whites. Cancer death rates for both races are about twice as high among those with a high school education or less than for people who have attended college. Still, the racial gap endures even among those with the same education level.
The report showed that blacks have a lower rate of screening for colorectal cancer, and are more likely than whites to be overweight and inactive, which are risk factors for cancer. To close the racial gap, Bach suggested, blacks need to be encouraged to have a personal doctor, get plenty of exercise and never smoke. And the health care system needs to ensure that the physicians and hospitals handling black cancer patients have the necessary training and resources.
Disclaimer
Featured Doctors
Oncologist Westchester, NY
Delong Liu, M.D., Ph.D.
Westchester Oncology & Hematology
19 Bradhurst Avenue
Hawthorne, NY 10532
Call: 888-370-4284
Find a Radiation Oncologist -Westchester
Lucia Boselli
Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
2330 Eastchester Road
Bronx, NY 10469
Call: (888) 860-7136
Breast Cancer Screening and Detection using MRI/ CT Scan Rye
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Ave, 1st Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 544-1169
Breast Cancer Surgeon New York
The Columbia University Comprehensive Breast Center at Lawrence Hospital
Lawrence Hospital Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: 888-468-9351
Colonoscopy Doctors in Texas
The Texas Colonoscopy Centers
The MicroSurgery Institute
,
Call: 888-493-1243
Medical Oncologist Westchester NY
Tauseef Ahmed, M.D.
Westchester Oncology & Hematology
19 Bradhurst Avenue
Hawthorne, NY 10532
Call: 888-370-4284
Richard DioGuardi
DioGuardi & Murdock
1940 Commerce Street, Suite 108
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
Call: 914-245-0700
Cancer Alternatives Las Vegas, NV
Daniel Royal
Royal Medical Group
9065 S. Pecos Rd., Ste. 250
Henderson, NV 89074
Call: 888-664-7161
Oncologist Bronx, NY
Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
2330 Eastchester Road
Bronx, NY 10469
Call: (888) 860-7136
Mammogram Center - Mammography Center Westchester, NY
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 544-1169
Mammogram Center - Mammography Center Westchester, NY
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 544-1169
Breast Center at Lawrence Hospital
Anthony Provenzano
Lawrence Hospital Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: 888-468-9351
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Cancer Treatment Center
Cancer Hospital in PA
Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1331 East Wyoming Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19124
Call: 800-821-6032
Find a Radiation Oncologist -Westchester
Lucia Boselli
Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
2330 Eastchester Road
Bronx, NY 10469
Call: (888) 860-7136
Adult Leukemia Treatment NY
Delong Liu, M.D., Ph.D.
Westchester Oncology & Hematology
19 Bradhurst Avenue
Hawthorne, NY 10532
Call: 888-370-4284
Breast Cancer Testing MRI/ CT Scan Yonkers
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Ave, 1st Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 544-1169
Breast Cancer Screening and Detection using MRI/ CT Scan Rye
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Ave, 1st Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 544-1169
Breast Oncology Westchester County, New York
Preya Dr. Ananthakrishnan, M.D.
Lawrence Hospital Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: 888-468-9351
Blood Cancer Treatment Westchester
Delong Liu, M.D., Ph.D.
Westchester Oncology & Hematology
19 Bradhurst Ave, Ste 2100
Hawthorne, NY 10532
Call: 888-370-4284
Chicago, Illinois Cancer Treatment Center
Cancer Hospital in Zion
Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Zion, Illinois
2520 Elisha Avenue
Zion, IL 60099
Call: 800-403-7412
Mammogram Center - Mammography Center Westchester, NY
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 544-1169
Optimal Wellness Weightloss
Optimal Wellness
25 Mountainview Boulevard
Basking Ridge,, NJ 07920
Call: 888-999-9735
Breast Cancer Testing MRI/ CT Scan Yonkers
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Ave, 1st Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 544-1169
Breast Cancer Screening and Detection using MRI/ CT Scan Rye
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Ave, 1st Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 544-1169
Breast Cancer Testing MRI/ CT Scan Yonkers
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Ave, 1st Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708
Call: (888) 544-1169
Cancer Treatment Center NY
Tauseef Ahmed, M.D.
Westchester Oncology & Hematology
19 Bradhurst Avenue
Hawthorne, NY 10532
Call: 888-370-4284
Medical Oncologist Bronx
Anthony Hoffman
The Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
2330 Eastchester Road
Bronx, NY 10469
Call: (888) 860-7136
Specialities
- Acupuncture
- Alternative Medicine
- Bariatric Surgery
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Surgery
- Cancer Treatment
- Cardiology
- Chiropractic
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Cosmetic Surgery
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Endocrinology
- Facial Enhancement
- Fertility Treatment
- Foot Specialist
- Foot Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- General Surgery
- Geriatrics
- Hair Replacement
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
- Infertility Treatment
- Integrative Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- LASIK
- Laser Hair Removal
- Medical Editorial Board
- Medical Spa
- Medical Testing
- Neurology
- Neuropathy
- Nursing Home Services
- Nutrition and Diet
- Obstetrician & Gynecology
- Oncology & Cancer
- Oncology Center
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Orthopedics
- Pain Management
- Physical Therapy
- Plastic Surgery
- Podiatry
- Spinal Decompression
- Spine Surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Stem Cell Therapy
- Thoracic Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
- Vein Surgery
- Weight Loss












