More Blacks Dying From Colorectal Cancer
Seattle – The American Cancer Society released a report on Monday which revealed that though the death rate and overall incidence of colorectal cancer has dropped, the racial gap is still widening between black men and women versus the amount of whites dying of the disease- 45 percent more African Americans are likely to die of colorectal cancer. According to the Colorectal Cancer Facts:; Figures 2008-2010 report noted that though there is a continued and sweeping decrease, rates are still remaining high and the reduction in incidence has been lower in the African American population.
According to the American Cancer Society, colerectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer related death in the United States, and 49,000 people die of the disease each year. Since this report was initially released in 2005, 10 more states implemented legislation to provide better and more inclusive coverage for the wide range of screening for this disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently also approved a new therapy to treat metastatic colorectal cancer, the report also showed.
The report also reveals that in spite of the higher percentage, that proportionately, the early diagnosis of most racial and ethnic groups is growing steadily and many advances in early detection and treatment are allowing doctors to not only detect the disease early on, but also to effectively treat it in patients. The findings seem hopeful that with more people having access to these tests the rates can further decline.