Over the next two decades, the United States will witness a rise in new cancer cases among minorities and an aging population, according to a new report. Experts predict the rate of new diagnoses will jump by 45 percent among the general population and by 67 percent among seniors age 65 years and older. Among minorities new cancer cases will double.
“Decades of research led to the development of sophisticated treatment and screening methods, resulting in a substantial improvement in survival rates. But there is a profound divide between those with access to these improved results and those without access,” said Richard L. Schilsky, MD, President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology president (ASCO).
“One in five blacks are uninsured. More than one in three Latinos, Native Americans and Alaska Natives are uninsured. People lacking health insurance are less likely to survive cancer,” Schilsky adds.
ASCO promised to launch a huge effort to eradicate cancer disparities. The effort would increase disease awareness, provide better access to care, more oriented research and effective recruitment of minorities in clinical trials, offer more workforce diversity, maximize health care access to underserved regions and populations and supply better coverage to people living with cancer.
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