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Minorities and Lung Cancer

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The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Last Modified: May 8, 2013

Question

Is it true that African-Americans are more likely to develop lung cancer than other groups and also more likely to die from it? If so, why?

Answer

Chanita Highes-Halbert, PhD, Racial Disparities Expert, adds:

Studies show that African Americans are more likely than whites to develop lung cancer and to die from this disease. The reasons for this are complex and include being diagnosed at a later stage and greater exposure to certain risk factors for the disease. African Americans are more likely than individuals from other ethnic and racial groups to be diagnosed with advanced-stage disease, and this has implications for the type of treatment that is recommended. It is important to understand the stage of disease and why certain types of treatments are recommended and others are not.

This question and answer was part of the OncoLink Brown Bag Chat Series. View the entire Focus on Lung Cancer transcript.