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Patient-Centered Clinical Care for African Americans pp 69–84Cite as

Important Differences in Cancer Care

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Abstract

African Americans have the highest mortality for the top five causes of cancer death. The reasons for these and other cancer disparities are not easily explained, but a better understanding of current hypotheses and best practices may improve your patient’s outcomes. A study of almost 20,000 cancer patients found that “when controlled for uniform stage, treatment, and follow up, African American sex-specific cancers (breast, ovarian, and prostate) still did worse.” The colon cancer incidence and death rate is so high in the African American community that the American College of Gastroenterology recommends screening begin at age 45. Studies also showed an increased occurrence in African Americans for right-sided colon cancer tumors prompting recommendations against sigmoidoscopy in these patients because a majority of tumors would be missed. Prostate cancer in African American men is the most prevalent occurring cancer, and the second most common cause of overall cancer deaths. European American male smokers consume 30%–40% more cigarettes than their African American counterparts, but African American male smokers are 34% more likely to develop lung cancer. These and other curious cancer differences are more closely examined.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Partnerships for Urban Health, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Gregory L. Hall MD

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  1. Gregory L. Hall MD
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Hall, G.L. (2020). Important Differences in Cancer Care. In: Patient-Centered Clinical Care for African Americans. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26418-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26418-5_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-26417-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-26418-5

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