University Study Examines Differences in Cancer Mortality Among Blacks

unlvCancer is the second highest cause of death among African Americans. There have been numerous studies examining the racial gap in cancer rates and mortality rates of cancer patients. Now a new study by researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas examines differences in cancer and mortality rates between native-born African Americans and Blacks born in Caribbean nations.

The research, conducted by scientists in the university’s School of Community Health Sciences, found that among all major racial/ethnic groups in the United States, American-born Blacks had the highest rate of cancer mortality. Caribbean-born Blacks in the United States had the lowest rate.

For all cancers combined, American-born Black males have a cancer mortality rate double that of Caribbean-born Black men. For women, native-born Black Americans have a cancer mortality rate that is 60 percent higher than the rate of Caribbean-born Black immigrants to the United States.

The largest gap between the two groups of Black Americans is in lung cancer. Native-born Black Americans have a lung cancer mortality rate that is four times as high as the rate for Caribbean-born Blacks.

Paulo S. Pinheiro, an associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the lead author of the study, says that “Blacks, or individuals of African descent, in the U.S. are very heterogeneous, with diverse social, cultural, and economic backgrounds that fundamentally impact health.”

The authors note that Blacks born outside the U.S. are less likely to smoke. And Caribbean immigrants tend to maintain their traditional diets containing less red meat and higher intake of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, which protect against colorectal cancer. Immigrant fertility rates and breastfeeding patterns may help explain breast cancer differences.

The study, “Black Heterogeneity in Cancer Mortality: US-Blacks, Haitians, and Jamaicans,” was published in the journal Cancer Control. It may be downloaded by clicking here.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Three African Americans Who Have Been Appointed to Diversity Posts in Higher Education

Terrence Mitchell was appointed executive director for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. Faye Belgrave has been named vice president and chief diversity officer at Virginia Commonwealth University and Tammy Bennett is the inaugural vice president for inclusive excellence in philanthropy at the University of Cincinnati Foundation.

Federal Government Calls on States to End Funding Disparities at Black Land-Grant Universities

The federal government sent letters to 16 governors emphasizing the over $12 billion disparity in funding between land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their non-HBCU land-grant peers in their states. Unequitable appropriated funding of the 1890 institutions in the states ranges from $172 million to $2.1 billion.

A Trio of Black Scholars in New Faculty Roles at Universities

The City College of New York has appointed Jervette R. Ward as director of the Black Studies Program. Scotti Branton is a new assistant professor of communication at the University of Arkansas, and professor Danille Taylor was appointed director of the Clark Atlanta University Art Museum.

Shaw University to Expand Its Presence to Research Triangle Park

The collaboration will secure Shaw University a dedicated office space within Frontier RTP innovation campus, located in the heart of the city's new vibrant downtown area. The space will include private offices and an administrative area dedicated to Shaw University, as well as classroom space.

Featured Jobs