Disparities in cancer care: an operative perspective.
BACKGROUND
Health disparities in cancer care have been described and stem from a complex interplay of patient, provider, and instutional factors.


METHODS
A review of the literature describing disparities in aspects of cancer care was performed.


RESULTS
Disparities in outcomes including overall survival for minority populations have been demonstrated to exist for race, age, and socioeconomic status.


CONCLUSIONS
Disparities in cancer care and outcomes clearly exist for many poorly understood reasons. After a diagnosis of cancer, barriers to care may develop at multiple points along the course of the patient's disease.
Murphy
Melissa M
MM
Surgery Outcomes Analysis & Research, Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, S6-432, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
Tseng
Jennifer F
JF
Shah
Shimul A
SA
D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology