Black women living in South Carolina are more likely to develop cancers

Black women living in South Carolina are more likely to develop and die from breast and cervical cancers, compared to white women, according to a study published in the Journal of the South Carolina Medical Association, the AP/WHNS reports (AP/WHNS, 9/13).

James Herbert of the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health and colleagues examined data from the South Carolina Central Cancer Registry to determine if health disparities exist among black and white residents diagnosed with cancer (USC release, 9/13).

The study finds that black women are 60% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women in the state. In addition, black women are more likely to develop and die from cervical cancer than white women in the state, despite similar screening rates, the study finds.

"While some of the differences, especially in mortality, are related to socio-economic factors that determine access to health care, we are pretty much in the dark regarding many of the underlying causes," Herbert said (AP/WHNS, 9/13).

The researchers also found disparities among blacks and whites in the state diagnosed with colorectal, esophageal, lung, oral cavity and prostate cancers (USC release, 9/13).