What are Cancer Disparities?
Many populations across the United States suffer a disproportionate burden of cancer. Disparities - or inequalities - occur when members of certain populations do not enjoy the same health status as other groups. Cancer-related disparities are most often identified along racial and ethnic lines, with ethnic minorities suffering most. However, disparities extend beyond race and ethnicity, with some common root causes of inequalities, including:
Socioeconomic factors - differences based on income and education, with less educated/lower income individuals often having lower access to quality healthcare and information that could help them reduce cancer risks or gain access to cancer screening services.
Behavioral factors - including populations with higher than average smoking rates, low cancer screening rates, and high fat diets and limited physical activity.
Environmental factors - many citizens who live in rural communities have limited access to healthcare and few options for transportation to more commercial centers where healthcare is more readily available.
