A new study suggests that eliminating racial disparities in colon cancer screening could significantly reduce cancer rates and deaths among Black Americans.
Research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that Black adults are 23% more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 31% more likely to die from it compared to White adults.
While overall screening rates have improved in recent years, persistent disparities remain in follow-up care and colonoscopy quality for Black patients.
Using mathematical models, researchers estimated that eliminating racial gaps in follow-up colonoscopy rates could reduce colon cancer incidence by 5.2% and mortality by 9.3% among Black Americans. Addressing disparities in colonoscopy quality could cut both incidence and mortality by 9.4%.
Tackling both issues simultaneously could reduce the racial gap in colon cancer incidence by 49% and mortality by 59%.
“People have long known that racial disparities in cancer exist,” said lead author Oguzhan Alagoz. “However, our study shows that it’s not enough to just get everyone screened; the quality of care during screening and follow-up must also be similar for Black and White adults.”
The researchers noted that even after addressing these screening disparities, a gap in outcomes would likely remain due to differences in general health and treatment. They called for “innovative solutions” to achieve true health equity in cancer care.
See “Reducing testing disparities could dramatically cut colon cancer rates among Black Americans” (July 24, 2024)
