DETROIT, Feb. 1, 2021 — Since 1976, the month of February has been designated as Black History Month in the United States. The month provides an opportunity to celebrate the many contributions African Americans have made to the country’s history while recognizing inequities and struggles that have divided the nation over the course of time.
Inequality has spanned across every inch and industry in America, from voting rights to equal pay, and the field of medicine is no exception. At Karmanos Cancer Institute, we acknowledge the disparities and inequities that Black cancer patients face. Since our founding, we have been committed to understanding these issues and leading changes that can shape a better future for underserved populations and all individuals fighting cancer.
The cancer burden facing the African American population is undoubtedly significant.
- According to the American Cancer Society, African Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial and ethnic group in the United States for most cancers.
- A report conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health showed that from 2012-2016, Black women were 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Hispanic white women, despite similar rates of diagnosis.
- In men, African Americans have lower five-year survival rates for most cancers compared to non-Hispanic white men.
- Additionally, fewer Black patients participate in clinical trials than other groups. A ProPublica analysis of data from the FDA found that in 2015, fewer than five percent of patients participating in 24 of 31 clinical trials for cancer drugs were African American.