How Cancer Affects Different Populations
C ancer is a disease that can affect everyone but doesn’t affect everyone equally. Black people have the highest death rate for cancer overall, have a lower overall 5-year cancer survival rate and are more likely to be diagnosed with breast, lung and colorectal cancers at a later stage. CANCER DISPARITIES Cancer health disparities are differences in cancer measures such as new cases, existing cases, mortality rates, survival rates, cancer-related complications, survivorship (quality of life after cancer treatment), financial burden of health conditions, screening rates and stages of diagnosis. These disparities can be most easily seen when outcomes are improving overall, but those improvements are not seen in some groups compared to others. Population groups that experience health care disparities include groups defined by race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, geographic location, income, education, age, sexual orientation and/ or other characteristics.
white women have the highest overall cancer case rates, Black women have the highest cancer death rates. For instance, Black women are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women overall. Black men have the highest cancer case rates and death rates overall, driven by the most common cancers (lung, prostate and colorectal). Living environment, social factors, economic disadvantages and genetics all contribute to these rates and to being at greater risk for several types of cancer, including the six major cancer types: lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer and cervical cancer.
rates are higher and more treatments are available. Talk to a doctor about which tests you might need and the screening schedule that’s right for you. It’s a good idea to also talk about risk factors, such as lifestyle behaviors and family history that may put you or your loved one at higher risk. WHAT UOFL HEALTH DOES As an academic health system devoted to health equity, UofL Health transforms the health of the communities we serve through compassionate, innovative, patient-centered care. However, UofL Health cannot provide transformative health care when members of our community experience unfairness in their health and access to health care. We want to rid the community of health differences closely linked with social or economic disadvantages through our commitment to health equity. The goal is the attainment of the highest level of health for all people. Achieving health equity requires valuing everyone equally with focused and ongoing societal efforts to address avoidable inequalities and historical and contemporary injustices and eliminating health and health care disparities. We improve the community’s health by understanding the challenges and opportunities in residents’ social, political, physical and economic environments.
HOW TO IMPACT CANCER RATES
A substantial proportion of cancers can be prevented through healthy behaviors and access to cancer screenings and vaccines. The American Cancer Society argues for a refined approach to address gaps in cancer health outcomes,which must include enhanced prevention and early detection, increased access to coverage and treatment across all populations and delivery of care in a competent manner. EMBRACE SCREENINGS In addition, the Black community must embrace screenings to help detect cancer early when survival
CANCER RATES IN BLACK PEOPLE
Black Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival rate of any racial or ethnic group in the U.S. for most cancers, according to the American Cancer Society. Although
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