Black lung cancer patients less likely to receive chemotherapy, surgery than whites.Byline: ANI Washington, April 13 (ANI): A new study has shed light on racial disparities in the treatment of lung cancer lung cancer, cancer that originates in the tissues of the lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States in both men and women. Like other cancers, lung cancer occurs after repeated insults to the genetic material of the cell. between black and white patients. Dr. Dale Hardy, of the University of Texas School of Public Health The Texas Legislature authorized the creation of a school of public health in 1947, but did not appropriate funds for the school until 1967. The first class was admitted in the Fall of 1969, doubled in the second year and doubled again in the third year, with continued grwoth over the , has found that black lung black lung: see pneumoconiosis. cancer patients are less likely to receive recommended chemotherapy chemotherapy (kē'mōthĕr`əpē), treatment of disease with chemicals or drugs. One chemotherapeutic approach is the development of selectively toxic substances, i.e. and surgery than white lung Noun 1. white lung - acute lung injury characterized by coughing and rales; inflammation of the lungs which become stiff and fibrous and cannot exchange oxygen; occurs among persons exposed to irritants such as corrosive chemical vapors or ammonia or chlorine etc. cancer patients. He says that this disparity dis·par·i·ty n. pl. dis·par·i·ties 1. The condition or fact of being unequal, as in age, rank, or degree; difference: "narrow the economic disparities among regions and industries" is showing no signs of lessening. His findings indicate that efforts are needed to provide appropriate treatments for black patients, and to educate them about the value of those treatments. Hardy and his colleagues analysed data from 83,101 patients, aged 65 or more, who were diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell Definition Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a disease in which the cells of the lung tissues grow uncontrollably and form tumors. Description There are two kinds of lung cancers, primary and secondary. , the most common type of lung cancer, between 1991 and 2002. The researchers looked for racial differences in treatment, the first attempt to address the changes in receipt of treatment over time for this disease. They found that for patients with early lung cancer, blacks were 37 percent less likely than whites to receive recommended surgery and 42 percent less likely to receive recommended chemotherapy. For patients with later stage of the disease, blacks were 57 percent less likely to receive recommended chemotherapy than whites. The researchers further noted that older patients, women, and those with lower socio-economic status also experienced greater disparities in receiving treatment. Hardy pointed out that lung cancer treatment disparities were just as large in 2002 as they were in the early 1990s, despite efforts to address inequalities in medical treatment. He insisted that his team's findings added to a large and growing body of research indicating that significant steps were needed to ensure equal cancer-related care for all races. "Efforts should focus on the appropriate quality treatment and educating blacks on the value of having these treatments to reduce these disparities in receipt of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer," write the authors, adding that only then will black lung cancer patients experience similar survival rates and quality of life as white patients. The study has been published in the journal Cancer. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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