Lauren Zolkiewicz, sponsor of Wheaton High School’s National Honor Society (far right), collaborates with students and Rockville staff to remove woodland debris from the Avery Road Colored Cemetery site on Tuesday. Credit: Noah Johnson. Img source: moco360.media
May 17, 2024 Story by: Editor
Despite significant strides in the fight against cancer in the United States, as evidenced by a 33% decline in overall mortality rates between 1991 and 2020, and a growing number of cancer survivors surpassing 18 million, the burden of cancer continues to disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minority communities.
This insight is underscored in the AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2024, released by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), which highlights systemic factors such as historical racism, segregation, and a lack of diversity in cancer research and care delivery as contributors to ongoing health disparities.
The report emphasizes the urgent need for sustained research efforts and collaborative initiatives to ensure that advancements in cancer care benefit all individuals, irrespective of race, ethnicity, or socio-economic background.
Key Findings Revealed:
While progress has been made in reducing disparities in certain areas, such as a notable decrease in the gap in overall cancer mortality rates between Black and White individuals, from 33% in 1990 to 11.3% in 2020, the AACR report underscores the persistent challenges in achieving health equity. Disparities persist in various cancer types and outcomes, with minority populations bearing a disproportionate burden of the disease.
For instance:
Black and Indigenous individuals, despite having lower overall cancer incidence rates compared to White populations, experience the highest cancer death rates across all racial and ethnic groups.
Notably:
Black men face double the mortality risk from prostate cancer compared to White men.
Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer despite similar incidence rates to White women.
Certain minority groups, including American Indian and Alaskan Native, Asian and Pacific Islander, and Hispanic individuals, exhibit elevated incidence and mortality rates for cancers such as stomach and liver cancer.
Geographical disparities also play a significant role, with residents of nonmetropolitan or rural areas facing increased risks of cancer diagnosis and death, particularly concerning lung cancer. Additionally, neighborhood income levels impact cancer outcomes, with residents of low-income neighborhoods facing higher risks of certain cancer types, such as triple-negative breast cancer.
Sexual and gender minorities also experience notable disparities, with sexual minority women facing heightened breast cancer risk compared to heterosexual women, and transgender individuals facing increased risks of certain cancers.
A Call to Action:
To address these persistent disparities, the AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2024 calls for comprehensive action, including:
- Increased funding for federal agencies and programs dedicated to reducing cancer disparities.
- Enhanced data collection initiatives and increased participation in clinical trials.
- Prioritization of cancer control initiatives and expansion of screening programs.
- Implementation of policies to ensure equitable patient care.
- Efforts to diversify the cancer research and care workforce.
- Comprehensive legislation to eliminate health inequities.
In the words of Robert A. Winn, MD, FAACR, Chair of the AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2024 Steering Committee, “We must continue to engage in critical conversations and take meaningful action to address the multifaceted factors contributing to cancer disparities.” Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), Chief Executive Officer of AACR, emphasizes that health equity must be a national priority, urging collaboration and support from stakeholders and policymakers to eliminate cancer disparities once and for all. Source: The ASCO Post
