Cancer screening

Minority groups face special problems and concerns about cancer, including higher rates of developing some cancers and barriers to early detection. Data from the American Cancer Society (ACS), National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention support trends in minority populations such as African Americans, who are more likely to develop and die of cancer than whites or any other racial or ethnic group in the United States.

A 1989 study performed by the Institute of Medicine pointed out that African American women with breast cancer were less likely to have health insurance, were less likely to be treated by a board-certified doctor, and were more likely to be treated in large, public hospitals.¹ They were also less likely to have hormone studies done on their cancers, and were less likely to receive radiation as part of their treatment for breast cancer.² African American women are more likely than white women to die from breast cancer. Researchers are trying to find out why this happens. Some reasons may be that tumors are found at a later (more advanced) stage so there are fewer treatment options, or patients don't follow up after getting abnormal test results. Other reasons might include obesity or inability to get a mammography.³ 

For men with prostate cancer, another study showed that African American men were more likely to be treated with radiation than have the newer surgical procedures. And, twice as many African American men as white men received no treatment at all for their prostate cancer.⁴ 

Studies continue to show that minorities are more likely to develop some of the most common forms of cancer. Their cancers are also more likely to be found when they are at a more advanced stage, which may itself be the result of a range of factor.⁵ 

Facts to consider:

• About 443 out of every 100,000 African Americans were diagnosed with cancer from 1990-1996.⁶
• African American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world; within the United States, African American men have a 60 percent higher incidence rate compared with white men.⁷
• Sixty-three percent of cancer deaths among black men are caused by tobacco.⁸ 
• African Americans have shorter survival rates than white Americans at all stages of the diagnosis.⁹
• Cervical cancer incident rates in Vietnamese women are five times higher than the rates among American women.¹⁰
• Minorities are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer and colorectal cancer compared with whites.¹¹

^1,2,4 American Cancer Society

³ Womenshealth.gov/ The Federal Government Source for Women's Health Information

⁵ American Cancer Society

⁶ John Deere Health

⁷ Association of Cancer Online Resources 

⁸ Join Together Online

⁹ American Cancer Society

¹⁰ www.cancer.org

¹¹ Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality