Access to healthcare affecting colon cancer risk for African Americans
Biological differences may not be to blame for higher rates of colon cancer among African Americans. Instead, new research indicates the problem may be access to health care.
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute studied over 60,000 people who were told by their doctors they should be screened for colorectal cancer. They could not find a difference between blacks and whites when looking at the number of polyps and cancers found. However, African Americans were less likely to actually undergo the test. Such a lack of follow up can lead to a delayed diagnosis and treatment, as well as higher mortality rates.
The reasons for the disparity are unclear, but researchers speculate the costs of the follow up tests and lack of knowledge about cancer prevention could be to blame.
The study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.