Studies conducted at the UC Davis Cancer Center in Sacramento have concluded that African American Women have worse survivor rates than white and hispanic counterparts inspite of surgical procedures or radiation therapy.
Steve Martinez, an assistant professor of surgery, found that African American women were less likely to receive radiation, but even with the few who did, their survival rate was actually worse than white patients whose disease had progressed to the same stage. Is it possible that there is an actual biological difference that causes them not to benefit from post surgical radiation therapy?
The factors that determined access to radiation therapy were not explored, but African Americans were 24% less likely to receive it than their white counterparts. Martinez's research is still ongoing, exploring the factors that influence access to radiation therapy and other biological differences so that each group receives treatment honed to their needs producing the best outcome.
University of California - Davis - Health System. "Disparities persist in outcomes for African-American women with advanced breast cancer." ScienceDaily 6 April 2010. 16 January 2011
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