THURSDAY, May 22, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Blacks who live in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky have a greater risk of developing and dying from colorectal cancer than whites who live in those states.
So claims a study by researchers at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
The scientists analyzed data from more than 62,000 cases of colorectal cancer in the three largely rural states from 1994-98. The authors say the study findings confirm that unexplained health disparities exist for blacks in those areas.
The study was presented May 21 at the 2003 Digestive Diseases Week meeting in Orlando, Fla.
The researchers found blacks were 18 percent more likely to have proximal, or upper, colon cancer than whites. They were also 56 percent more likely to have proximal colon cancer diagnosed at a later stage, when there is only a 9 percent survival rate.
Overall, the study found that blacks living in the three states were 33 percent more likely to die from colon cancer.
There may be a number of reasons for this disparity, including differences in diet, lifestyle, education, environment and access to cancer screenings.
Blacks are more likely to develop all cancers than people in other racial or ethnic groups, and blacks are more frequently diagnosed after the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in black Americans.
The researchers say their study indicates the importance of regular colon screenings for everyone. They also believe it heightens awareness about potential health disparities that exist for blacks and may lead to recommendations about improving access to colon screenings for blacks.
More information
Here's where you can learn more about colorectal cancer.
