Contact: Kate Watson
843.792.1247
Mary Yarborough
843.792.3622
Sept. 13, 2006
Charleston -- A study conducted by researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina shows that the cancer rate among blacks living in South Carolina is nearly twice as great as it is for whites in the state.
The study released Sept. 13 by the Journal of the South Carolina Medical Association focuses on racial imbalances that exist in African American and European American cancer rates in South Carolina, while comparing cancer disparities between the two races nationally.
South Carolina leads the nation in several cancer rates. The study found that in South Carolina:
•African American women are about 60 percent more likely than white women to die from breast cancer after diagnosis, which is the largest disparity in the country.
•African American men are nearly 80 percent more likely to get prostate cancer and nearly three times more likely to die of the disease than white men. This is about 50 percent of the rate nationally.
•Both African American men and women are more likely to have and die of colorectal cancer than their white counterparts.
•African American women are much more likely to be diagnosed and die from cervical cancer; despite similar screening rates.
MUSC's Anthony Alberg, Ph.D., associate director and chairman of Cancer Prevention and Control at MUSC's Hollings Cancer Center, the largest academic-based cancer program in South Carolina, also was an author of the study. His focus has been on the causes of lung cancer among African Americans.
"We understand the importance of the issue of cancer disparities and we are creating innovative programs to help educate African Americans on the importance of early tests, and how lifestyle choices, including not smoking, eating a healthy diet and exercise can help to prevent many cancers," said Alberg.
Meanwhile, programs including Health-e-AME and Brothers Against Prostrate Cancer, which is operated through barber shops in South Carolina, are supported by MUSC and focus on cancer prevention and other health disparities among African Americans.
While some of the differences are related to socioeconomic factors that determine access to health care, "We are pretty much in the dark regarding many of the underlying causes," said James Hebert, Ph.D., a USC researcher and a journal contributor.
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