Img source: Yahoo.com
May 7, 2024 Story by: Publisher
ATLANTA, GA — Despite significant advancements in cancer prevention and treatment, Black women in the U.S. still have the lowest survival rates for most cancers compared to any other racial or ethnic group.
This disparity is especially pronounced in breast cancer, which kills Black women at a rate 40 percent higher than that of white women. Black women are also approximately 60 percent more likely to die from cervical cancer and over twice as likely to die from stomach cancer compared to their white counterparts.
To address and understand these racial disparities, the American Cancer Society is initiating a groundbreaking study named VOICES of Black Women. This study aims to recruit at least 100,000 Black women aged 25 to 55 from 20 states, including Georgia, and follow them over a span of 30 years. These states were chosen because they are home to 90 percent of the U.S. Black women within this age range.
The VOICES of Black Women study is a comprehensive behavioral and environmental population study focused on cancer risk among Black women in the United States.
Dr. Lauren McCullough, an Atlanta resident and one of the lead researchers of the study, expressed her hopes: “My immediate hope is that in joining this study, Black women feel that there are people out there who see them and are fighting for them and they want better outcomes for them and their family and their future daughters, granddaughters, etc.”
The study will examine medical history and daily life information to understand how various factors—including diet, income, physical activity, stress levels, and experiences of racism and discrimination—impact the risk of developing or dying from cancer. It will also investigate how environmental factors like poor air quality and heavy metals in the soil influence cancer progression.
McCullough highlighted that access to healthcare doesn’t necessarily ensure Black women receive the quality care they need. “From a scientific end, we want to have the scientific evidence that systemic racism is real and there are places where we need interventions. We need environmental interventions. We need overhauls. We need social interventions,” McCullough said. “And from a clinical perspective to say, well this treatment is not working. We need to be able to say why certain treatments don’t work. What are the things we need to be looking for? What are the alternatives for these women?”
Participants in the study will complete two surveys annually through a secure online portal. The study involves no medication, clinical testing, treatment, or lifestyle changes, according to the American Cancer Society. All participants must be cancer-free at the time of enrollment.
Previous population studies by the American Cancer Society, which have involved around 2.5 million participants over the years, have led to significant discoveries, including the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer and the association between high consumption of red and processed meats and an increased risk of colon cancer.
Historically, Black women have been underrepresented in cancer research, with Black men and women making up only 5 percent of clinical trial participants in the U.S. McCullough attributes these low numbers to factors such as medical mistrust and a lack of recruitment efforts.
“Often, when we get the results, we have to ask if they are relevant to this particular demographic,” McCullough explained. “Are there things that we haven’t taken into account that may uniquely affect Black women? Having a study focused on Black women will help us make significant advancements in understanding the health of Black women.” Source: The Tennessee Tribune
