WEDNESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Differences in screening
account for much of the disparity in both colorectal (colon) cancer
incidence and death rates between white and black Americans, a new
study says.
The screening differences are responsible for 42 percent of the
gap in cancer incidence and 19 percent of the disparity in death
rates, according to the study.
The study also found that differences in survival linked to the
stage of cancer at diagnosis (which likely reflect differences in
treatment) account for an additional 36 percent of the disparity
between blacks and whites in colorectal cancer death rates.
The results suggest that equal access to care could greatly
reduce these disparities, according to the study published online
April 18 in the journal
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.
Researchers led by Iris Lansdorp-Vogelaar, then a visiting
scientist at the American Cancer Society, used a computer model to
apply colorectal cancer screening and survival rates seen among
whites to black Americans age 50 and older. They then compared
those rates to actual incidence and death rates in blacks to
determine how much of the racial disparities in colorectal cancer
rates are due to differences in screening or stage-specific
survival.
Applying to blacks the screening pattern seen among whites would
reduce the gap in colorectal cancer incidence rates among those age
50 and older from about 28 to 16 cases per 100,000, and reduce the
gap in death rates from nearly 27 to 22 deaths per 100,000,
according to an American Cancer Society news release.
The researchers also found that if blacks had the same
stage-specific relative survival as whites, the disparity in
colorectal cancer death rates would decrease to about 17 deaths per
100,000.
Altogether, differences in screening and survival accounted for
54 percent of the disparity in colorectal cancer death rates
between whites and blacks. The researchers said the remainder of
the disparity most likely is due to lifestyle factors that increase
the risk (such as alcohol use, smoking, obesity and meat
consumption) and decrease the risk (such as physical activity and
hormone-replacement therapy in women after menopause).
More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about
colorectal cancer.