Science

Disparities in cancer mortality between US-born and foreign-born blacks by Mandi Yu, et al. – African Diaspora Cancer Network

surveillance.cancer.gov

Dec 20, 2024, 15:35

Disparities in cancer mortality between US-born and foreign-born blacks by Mandi Yu, et al. – African Diaspora Cancer Network

A recent paper by Mandi Yu, Statistician at National Cancer Institute, published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute, was mentioned by African Diaspora Cancer Network on LinkedIn:

“New research highlights persistent disparities in cancer mortality between U.S.-born and foreign-born blacks. Notably, U.S.-born Black individuals experience mortality rates up to 4 times higher for some cancers, such as lung cancer, compared to their foreign-born counterparts.

While overall trends in cancer mortality are improving, the slower progress among foreign-born groups — particularly in colorectal cancer among foreign-born Black and Hispanic men — demands urgent investigation.

The danger of grouping all Black individuals together, especially in health research like cancer disparities, lies in masking critical differences that exist within this diverse population.

Black individuals in the U.S. include those of African-American, Afro-Caribbean, and African immigrant origins. These groups have different health behaviors, genetic predispositions, and exposures to environmental risk factors.

Aggregating data reinforces harmful stereotypes and generalizations about health outcomes for ‘all Black people,’ when in reality, outcomes vary significantly across subgroups. This perpetuates systemic biases in research and clinical practice.

Public health initiatives may fail to address the specific needs of subgroups within the Black population if data is aggregated. Tailoring cancer prevention, screening, and treatment interventions based on nativity and cultural factors is crucial to achieving health equity.

At the African Diaspora Cancer Network, we are advocating and emphasizing the importance of disaggregating data by nativity to address health inequities effectively and highlight opportunities for targeted prevention, screening, and interventions to reduce these persistent gaps.”

“Assessing racial, ethnic, and nativity disparities in US cancer mortality using a new integrated platform”

Authors: Mandi Yu et al.

Disparities in cancer mortality between US-born and foreign-born blacks by Mandi Yu, et al. - African Diaspora Cancer Network