Disparity Matters

Karen Peterson

“I’m your everyday woman who is a self-taught advocate, an underdog…I empowered myself through education. I am a rebel who refused to accept substandard care…I’m a prime example of why cancer research works—I am alive because of it…My goal is to inspire and empower others to take charge of their medical narratives and to give […]

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Different screening guidelines may identify more Blacks with lung cancer

A new model for lung cancer screening may ensure that African Americans at risk for lung cancer are no longer undercounted, according to researchers. Studies suggest that African American ever-smokers at high risk for lung cancer may benefit from screening more than any other racial/ethnic group. However, the current criteria for screening established by the

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Famed sportscaster speaks out about being diagnosed with prostate cancer

Sportscaster Brian Custer was at the pinnacle of his career covering college football and basketball for Fox Sports when a free prostate cancer screening at work changed everything. “The doctor said, ‘Listen, there’s no easy way to tell you this, Brian, but you’ve got cancer and it’s aggressive’.” Just 40 years old at the time,

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Karen Peterson

How Karen Peterson took matters into her own hands when she was diagnosed for the second time with an aggressive form of breast cancer

“By sharing my story, I hope to inspire other African American women to become educated about their health care and to get involved in cancer research and clinical trials.”

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Black women with breast cancer experience delayed, longer treatment than whites

One in seven black women with breast cancer experienced delays in starting treatment, compared with one in 12 white women.  And Black women were also more likely to have longer duration of treatment, as were women under the age of 50 of all races, according to a study of 2,841 women with breast cancer. Black

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“The promotion of lung cancer screening to the U.S. Hispanic population has been a disaster”

We have data since 2011 that there is a 20 precent reduced lung cancer mortality with low-dose CT lung cancer screening, says Luis E. Raez, MD, of Memorial Cancer Institute/Florida International University in Miami. It took Medicare and payers more than 5 years to agree that the benefit is worth it and they started to

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Boseman’s death has reignited discussions about rising cases of colorectal cancer in young adults

Many of us are still mourning the loss of actor Chadwick Boseman, who lost his battle with colon cancer in August 2020, at age 43. His untimely death has reignited discussions about the rising cases of colorectal cancer in young adults, particularly among the Black and African American community. “Black and African American men and

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“If it happened to Chadwick Boseman, what about the average Joe?”

The death of “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman, 43, after a four-year private battle with colon cancer has raised fresh concerns about how the illness disparately harms Black men. “If it happened to Chadwick Boseman, who had access to probably the best health care his money could buy, what about the average Joe?” asked Rhonda

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Researchers say downplaying PSA tests is based on misintepretation of two key studies

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) does not recommend PSA testing of men. Instead, it says that whether to test should be an individual decision based on a physician-clinician discussion of the potential benefits and risks. Three researchers maintain that this stance is based on a misunderstanding of the data from two pivotal screening

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Chadwick Boseman’s Death Highlights Colorectal Cancer Health Disparities

Movie actor Chadwick Boseman died from colon cancer at the age of 43 on August 28, 2020. His death highlights the growing incidence of colorectal cancer among young people. For young, Black individuals, the risk is even greater. The American Cancer Society reports that Black men and women are 20% more likely to get colorectal

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