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US Blacks Hard-hit by
Cancer Death rates from cancer are falling for all Americans, but black Americans are still more likely to die of cancer than whites, the American Cancer Society said Monday. In a special report on cancer and blacks, the organization said blacks are usually diagnosed with cancer later than whites, and they are more likely to die of the disease. This could be because of unequal access to medical care, because blacks are more likely to have other diseases like diabetes as well, and perhaps because of differences in the biology of the cancer itself, the report added. "In general, African Americans have less likelihood of surviving five years after diagnosis than whites for all cancer sites and all stages of diagnosis," the report said. "In describing cancer statistics for African Americans, this report recognizes that socioeconomic disparities and unequal access to medical care may underlie many of the differences associated with race." The cancer society said blacks should be encouraged to get check-ups earlier, when cancer is more treatable, and it said more research was needed to see if biological differences play a role. "The new statistics emphasize the continuing importance of eliminating these social disparities through public policy and education efforts," the organization said in a statement. But it also noted a drop in cancer death rates. "Cancer death rates in both sexes for all sites combined have declined substantially among African Americans since 1992, as have incidence rates," says the report. "Increased efforts to improve economic conditions in combination with education about the relationship of lifestyle choices to cancer could further reduce the burden of cancer among African Americans." About 36 million Americans describe themselves as black, representing about 12 percent of the population. |