Black Americans continue to face higher rates of colon cancer incidence and mortality compared to their white counterparts, but a new study suggests that improving the quality of cancer screening and follow-up care could significantly narrow this racial disparity.
Research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reveals that Black Americans are 23% more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer and 31% more likely to die from the disease than white Americans. While screening rateshave equalized in recent years, disparities in follow-up care and colonoscopy quality persist.
Lead author Oguzhan Alagoz, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, explains, “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.”
Using mathematical modeling, the researchers found that eliminating the gap in proper follow-up could reduce the racial disparity in colon cancer incidence by 5.2% and deaths by 9.3%. Equalizing colonoscopy quality could further decrease the gap in incidence by 14.6% and deaths by 18.7%.
Combining both improvements could potentially shrink the racial disparity in colon cancer incidence by 49% and deaths by 59%. However, the study acknowledges that other factors, such as overall health and access to care, also contribute to the disparity.
Alagoz concludes, “To truly close the racial gap in cancer deaths and achieve health equity, we need to find innovative solutions.”
See “Better Screening Key to Closing U.S. ‘Race Gap’ in Colon Cancer Deaths” (July 24, 2024)
