Can we as a country say we have made real progress in our fight against lung cancer if one part of the population continues to be left behind? Despite the reductions in tobacco use and the wider availability for more effective treatments, which have helped improve the outcomes for battling men and women alike, the truth is that Black Americans continue to be disproportionately affected by higher cancer mortality rates. The 5-year relative survival rate for lung cancer, which is often used as the standard for measuring the efficacy of cancer treatment, is 13% for Black patients in comparison to 16% for whites. This discrepancy highlights a fundamental problem, as it is clear Black patients are dying at a higher rate due to the disease. The National
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In the case where lung cancer is detected at a localized stage, meaning the cancer has not spread beyond the lung, the 5-year relative survival rate among Black patients increases up to 44%. The 44% tells us that when lung cancer is identified at an early stage in Black patients, doctors are often doing a good job of helping to treat their cancer. However, the problem lies in the fact that in data collected in the US from 2002 to 2008, the lung cancer of 60% of Black patients compared to 55% of White patients were detected at a stage where the cancer had metastasized to other vital organs of the human body. The stage of cancer at diagnosis is very important because it often determines a person’s chances of survival. Surgery, which is the most effective treatment, “can only be performed in localized disease.” Thus, since lung cancer in Black patients is often detected at late stages when surgery is no longer a viable option, they are less likely to have an opportunity for any successful medical interventions. This overwhelmingly contributes to the higher lung cancer mortality rate present in the Black …show more content…
In a research study comparing black and white patient trust in their physicians, the Houston Center for Quality of Care and Utilization Studies found that black patients had lower post-visit trust in their physicians in comparison to white patients. Given that Black patients viewed the physicians’ communications as less helpful and less supportive, it is possible that the poor physician-patient communication between Black patients and their doctors creates an environment where Black patients do not feel comfortable going to the hospital. They might be inclined to go to the hospital until it is absolutely necessary, which can postpone the diagnosis of their cancer for longer. This idea is given a personal face in Rebecca Sloot’s novel The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, as it is said that Henrietta “only went to Hopkins when she thought she had no choice.” For many Black patients, just like Henrietta, “walking into [hospitals is] like entering a foreign country where [they don’t] speak the language.” Thus, this could help explain why Black patients are more likely to be diagnosed at advanced stages of their lung cancer. Due to the life-threatening nature of cancer, it is essential that patients have trust in their physicians and in the medical establishment in order to be able to improve communication and medical
In the case where lung cancer is detected at a localized stage, meaning the cancer has not spread beyond the lung, the 5-year relative survival rate among Black patients increases up to 44%. The 44% tells us that when lung cancer is identified at an early stage in Black patients, doctors are often doing a good job of helping to treat their cancer. However, the problem lies in the fact that in data collected in the US from 2002 to 2008, the lung cancer of 60% of Black patients compared to 55% of White patients were detected at a stage where the cancer had metastasized to other vital organs of the human body. The stage of cancer at diagnosis is very important because it often determines a person’s chances of survival. Surgery, which is the most effective treatment, “can only be performed in localized disease.” Thus, since lung cancer in Black patients is often detected at late stages when surgery is no longer a viable option, they are less likely to have an opportunity for any successful medical interventions. This overwhelmingly contributes to the higher lung cancer mortality rate present in the Black …show more content…
In a research study comparing black and white patient trust in their physicians, the Houston Center for Quality of Care and Utilization Studies found that black patients had lower post-visit trust in their physicians in comparison to white patients. Given that Black patients viewed the physicians’ communications as less helpful and less supportive, it is possible that the poor physician-patient communication between Black patients and their doctors creates an environment where Black patients do not feel comfortable going to the hospital. They might be inclined to go to the hospital until it is absolutely necessary, which can postpone the diagnosis of their cancer for longer. This idea is given a personal face in Rebecca Sloot’s novel The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, as it is said that Henrietta “only went to Hopkins when she thought she had no choice.” For many Black patients, just like Henrietta, “walking into [hospitals is] like entering a foreign country where [they don’t] speak the language.” Thus, this could help explain why Black patients are more likely to be diagnosed at advanced stages of their lung cancer. Due to the life-threatening nature of cancer, it is essential that patients have trust in their physicians and in the medical establishment in order to be able to improve communication and medical