Summary
A study reveals that Black lung cancer patients are diagnosed younger and with more advanced stages than white patients, highlighting racial disparities in healthcare.
A new study looked at differences in lung cancer rates and outcomes between Black and white patients. It found that Black patients tend to be diagnosed with lung cancer at younger ages than white patients. Black patients also typically have more advanced lung cancer stages at diagnosis compared to white patients.
Researchers examined information on over 200,000 Black and white lung cancer patients from a national database. They found the average age of diagnosis was roughly 3 years younger for Black patients. Almost half of Black patients had stage 3 or 4 lung cancer when first diagnosed, versus only 40 percent of white patients. The study highlights racial disparities in who gets lung cancer and how far it has progressed when found. Reasons are complex, including factors like access to care.
More research is needed on why Black populations see higher rates of late-stage lung cancer at younger ages. This information can help guide efforts to close racial gaps.
