title: Racial differences and disparities in cancer care and outcomes: where's the rub?
abstract: Despite a profusion of studies over the past several years documenting racial differences in cancer outcomes, there is a paucity of data as to the root causes underlying these observations. This article reviews work to date focusing on black-white differences in cancer outcomes, explores potential mechanisms underlying these differences, and identifies patient, physician, and health care system factors that may account for persistent racial disparities in cancer care. Research strategies to elucidate the relative influence of these various factors and policy recommendations to reduce persistent disparities are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 25 Courtenay Drive, Suite 7018, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. esnaolan@musc.edu
authors.forename: Nestor F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Esnaola
authors.forename: Marvella E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*