It’s no secret that cancer is one of the top causes of death in the United States, the second leading killer according to the Center for Disease Control. However, what many don’t know is that African Americans are more likely to die when diagnosed with cancer over any other race.

Black women are even more likely to die from cancer when compared to the death rates of black men, along with other races.

These deaths by cancer are due to the fact that barriers are in place for cancer prevention, early detection and treatment for Black individuals.

In any case, Black Americans hold the shortest survival rate and the highest rate of death when diagnosed with most cancers.

Data provided by the CDC highlights the top rates of cancer deaths in the United States in 2020, the most recent data collected and available. Lung and bronchus cancer is the leading form of cancer that causes the most deaths. Female breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths, followed closely by prostate cancer.

Lung cancer occurs in the lungs when cells overproduce and cause mutations that can turn into cancerous tumors. Smoking increases one’s risk of contracting cancer in the lungs. The Cleveland Clinic recommends individuals to get checked for lung cancer if they experience shortness of breath, trouble breathing, a loss of appetite, unexplained fatigue, a cough that won’t go away and/or chest pain.  

Female breast cancer also occurs at the hands of cells multiplying and turning into tumors, but in the breasts. People assigned female at birth are affected by breast cancer. Typically, women over 50 are most likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, but it can occur at any age. The Cleveland Clinic recommends individuals to get checked for breast cancer if they experience a change in size or shape in their breast(s), discover a mass in their breast or have abnormal fluid discharge coming from their nipple(s) (generally blood-like or clear).

Prostate cancer occurs in the same way as the last two, just in the prostate. The Cleveland Clinic recommends anyone to get checked for prostate cancer if they have an urge to urinate frequently, have an abnormal urine flow and/or experience a lack of bladder or bowel control. 

Because studies show that Black men and women in America are less likely to be diagnosed early when it comes to cancer, their mortality rates are higher in terms of cancer related deaths. 

When any form of cancer is not diagnosed early, it is likely to spread. When cancer spreads, it is harder to treat and leads to higher rates of death. 

When examining data surrounding the rate of early diagnosis, the lack of treatment and the survival rate of lung cancer in particularly, it further proves that African Americans are underserved. African Americans in the US are 6% more likely to not be diagnosed early, 2% more likely to not be treated and 4% more likely to not survive lung cancer when compared to White people in America.

In speaking with individuals within the Black population in America, it can be found that they often avoid going to hospitals to be examined due to past negative experiences they have had with doctors. 

Here is where I will put several paragraphs with interviews detailing the experiences Myca and Melanie had at doctors visits that has caused them to avoid exams. 

Researchers across the United States have dedicated their life’s work to studying health disparities that exist in America that have led to things like high mortality rates among Black Americans when it comes to cancer. 

Here is where I will place quotes and information from Dr. Vangeese about the disparities that exist in healthcare that cause the high mortality rates. 

Blatant racism coupled with discrimination in healthcare greatly contributes to the raised rate of cancer mortality rates in Black Americans in America. The healthcare system must work to better understand and break down the barriers put in place that work to uphold the higher rates of cancer mortality in Black Americans.