Atlanta Journal-Constitution Examines Cancer Mortality Rates in Continuing Series on Racial Disparities

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sept. 29 examined the disproportionate number of African Americans in Georgia who die from cancer and the state's efforts to bridge the gap in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, in its occasional series on racial health disparities. Blacks living in Georgia are 27% more likely to die from cancer, the second-leading cause of death in Georgia behind cardiovascular disease, than whites. African-American women have a 67% greater chance of dying from breast cancer than white women, and African-American men have a 182% greater likelihood of dying from prostate cancer than white men. While scientists once suspected a genetic difference for the cancer disparity, research now concludes that African Americans "are no less likely to survive cancer" than whites if they receive equal treatment and access to care. African Americans are more likely than whites to receive "substandard treatment" for cancer, the Journal-Constitution reports. Poverty, lack of health insurance, lack of transportation, inadequate access to cancer screenings and not taking preventive measures are all factors contributing to the disparity. In addition, diet, environment, lifestyle, distrust of doctors, fear of cancer fatality and belief in alternative remedies also contribute to the disproportionate rates of cancer among whites and blacks, the Journal-Constitution reports. The Journal-Constitution reports that the state has some programs, including BreastTest, which gives free clinical breast exams and Pap smears to uninsured and low-income women, and Women's Health Medicaid, a program that extends Medicaid benefits to low-income women without health insurance who need breast or cervical cancer treatment, to help reduce the disparity in cancer death rates (Guthrie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/29).