[[{"@type":["BlogPosting"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/black-americans-and-lung-cancer-rcca-doctors-outline-4-ways-you-can-combat-a-deadly-disparity\/#BlogPosting","@context":{"@vocab":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","kg":"http:\/\/g.co\/kg"},"url":["https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/black-americans-and-lung-cancer-rcca-doctors-outline-4-ways-you-can-combat-a-deadly-disparity\/","https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/black-americans-and-lung-cancer-rcca-doctors-outline-4-ways-you-can-combat-a-deadly-disparity\/"],"publisher":[{"@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/"}],"author":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/black-americans-and-lung-cancer-rcca-doctors-outline-4-ways-you-can-combat-a-deadly-disparity\/#BlogPosting_author_Organization","name":"Regional Cancer Care Associates"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/black-americans-and-lung-cancer-rcca-doctors-outline-4-ways-you-can-combat-a-deadly-disparity\/#BlogPosting_image_ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/GettyImages-1345992704.jpeg"}],"headline":"Black Americans and Lung Cancer: RCCA Doctors Outline 4 Ways You Can Combat a Deadly Disparity","dateModified":"2022-06-06T23:53:38+00:00","datePublished":"2022-06-06T15:55:55+00:00","description":"Black Americans with lung cancer are 18% less likely than white people to be diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, 23% less likely to receive surgery, and 21% less likely to survive 5 years after diagnosis, according to the American Lung Association.","articleBody":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJune 6, 2022\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\nBlack Americans with lung cancer are 18% less likely than white people to be diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, 23% less likely to receive surgery, and 21% less likely to survive 5 years after diagnosis, according to the American Lung Association.1\n\u201cOne of the great medical and moral challenges of our time is to work so that all people benefit equally from the dramatic diagnostic and treatment advances that are being made against cancer,\u201d says Denis Fitzgerald, MD, board chairperson of Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), one of the nation\u2019s largest networks of oncology specialists.\nDr. Fitzgerald, a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist who practices with RCCA in Little Silver, NJ, adds, \u201cWhile the need to eliminate disparities related to race or any other factor pertains to all forms of cancer, lung cancer warrants particular focus because it is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 130,180 Americans will die of lung cancer this year, including 14,160 Black Americans.\u201d2,3\nIuliana Shapira, MD, RCCA\u2019s chief medical officer, says, \u201cOvercoming long-standing disparities in cancer care will require a concerted effort from all involved \u2013 clinicians and researchers, policy makers and payers, and, of course, patients, who can make a huge difference by being informed and proactive advocates for themselves and their health. The hopeful news with regard to lung cancer is that there are four significant steps people can take to reduce their risk for developing the disease and to increase the likelihood of early diagnosis and effective treatment.\u201d\n\n \tAvoiding, or stopping, smoking. \u201cThe latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that 14.4% of Black, non-Hispanic American adults smoke cigarettes. This rate is slightly higher than that for White, non-Hispanic American adults (13.3%), and considerably higher than the smoking rate among Asian and Hispanic Americans (8% each),\u201d4 says Chitra Kumar, MD, a board-certified medical oncologist who practices with RCCA in Edison, NJ. She adds, \u201cCigarette smoking is linked to 80% to 90% of lung cancer deaths,5 which makes avoiding smoking \u2013 or stopping smoking if you have begun \u2013 an important way to reduce your risk. Smoking cessation can be challenging, but there are several effective approaches available, and even if you have not had success with prior attempts, there are plenty of good reasons and ways to try again.\u201d\n \tBeing screened for lung cancer. \u201cEarly diagnosis can have a major impact on survival in lung cancer, and the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends annual screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in adults aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack per year smoking history and currently smoke or who have quit smoking in the past 15 years,\u201d6 notes Rachel Levenbach, MD.Levenbach, a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist who practices with RCCA in Moorestown, NJ, adds, \u201cSeveral studies, including one published in 2020 that involved 675 patients in the Philadelphia area, have shown that Black patients referred to a lung cancer screening program have lower rates of screening and longer time to follow-up compared to white people.5 While we need to identify and address health system-related issues that contribute to this disparity, it also is important for individuals who meet the screening requirements to be proactive in protecting their health. Low-dose computed tomography is painless, non-invasive, and performed relatively quickly. Government insurers and most commercial plans cover this screening for people who meet the USPSTF criteria, although it always is important to confirm beforehand that your plan will cover the imaging study. If you or someone you love is eligible for screening, please don\u2019t delay in taking this potentially life-saving step.\u201d\n \tHaving symptoms evaluated promptly. \u201cMany of the initial signs of lung cancer, such as a persistent cough or hoarseness, also are common symptoms of other, less-concerning conditions. For this reason, and sometimes also because of a lurking fear that the symptom may represent something serious, many people defer seeking medical attention, telling themselves, for instance, that a lingering cough likely is caused by allergies,\u201d says Joseph McLaughlin, MD. The board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist, who practices with RCCA in Manchester, CT, adds, \u201cThe majority of people who have a cough, hoarseness, fatigue, or one of the other symptoms of lung cancer will not have cancer, but a minority of those people will have a significant medical condition, be it lung cancer or something else that requires prompt attention. Having one or more of these symptoms is not cause to panic, but it is cause to talk with your doctor rather than ignoring what is going on. If it turns out to be nothing serious, you\u2019ll have reassurance and peace of mind \u2013 and your physician may be able to prescribe a medication or recommend lifestyle changes to relieve the symptom. If it is lung cancer, early identification and intervention can make a huge difference in outcomes.\u201d\n \tParticipating in a clinical trial. RCCA physicians note that while immunotherapies have played a leading role in extending survival in non-small cell lung cancer, Black people were significantly under-represented in clinical trials of these treatments, often making up just 2% to 4% of the study population. They added that this lack of adequate representation in clinical trials deprives patients and their physicians of the large-scale data that can be important when selecting a treatment. It also means that many Black people are not getting access to promising investigational therapies. RCCA\u2019s physicians urge all people being treated for lung cancer to talk with their oncologist about clinical trials. It is important, they note, for patients to understand the full range of available options available, as well as the informed-consent process and other safeguards in place to respect patients\u2019 rights.\n\n\n \tAmerican Lung Association. Racial and ethnic disparities. https:\/\/www.lung.org\/research\/state-of-lung-cancer\/racial-and-ethnic-disparities. Accessed April 2, 2022.\n \tAmerican Cancer Society. Key statistics for lung cancer. https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/lung-cancer\/about\/key-statistics.html. Accessed April 2, 2022.\n \tAmerican Cancer Society: Cancer Facts & Figures for African-American\/Black People 2022-2024. https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/content\/dam\/cancer-org\/research\/cancer-facts-and-statistics\/cancer-facts-and-figures-for-african-americans\/2022-2024-cff-aa.pdf. Accessed April 2, 2022.\n \tCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Current Cigarette Smoking Among U.S. Adults Aged 18 Years and Older. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/tobacco\/campaign\/tips\/resources\/data\/cigarette-smoking-in-united-states.html. Accessed April 2, 2022.\n \tLake M, Shusted CS, Joun H-S, et al. Black patients referred to a lung cancer screening program experience lower rates of screening and longer time to follow up. BMC Cancer. 2020;20:561. Doi.org\/10.1186s\/12885-020-06923-0.\n \tUnited States Preventive Services Task Force. Final Recommendation Statement. Lung Cancer: Screening. March 9, 2021. https:\/\/www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org\/uspstf\/recommendation\/lung-cancer-screening. Accessed April 2, 2022.\n \tNazha B, Mishra M, Pentz R, Owonikoko TK. Enrollment of racial minorities in clinical trials: Old problem assumes new urgency in the age of immunotherapy. 2019 ASCO Educational Book. https:\/\/ascopubs.org\/doi\/full\/10.1200\/EDBK_100021. Accessed April 2, 2022.\n \tCykert S, Eng E, Walker P, et al. A system-based intervention to reduce Black-White disparities in the treatment of early stage lung cancer. A pragmatic trial at five cancer centers. Cancer Medicine. 2019;8:1095-1102.\n\n\n \t13,200 \u2013 Estimated number of new cases of lung cancer in Black men in 2022\n \t12,490 \u2014 Estimated number of new cases of lung cancer in Black women in 2022\n \t7,890 \u2014 Estimated number of lung cancer deaths in Black men in 2022\n \t6,270 \u2014 Estimated number of lung cancer deaths in Black women in 2022\n \t1 in 16 \u2013 A Black man\u2019s lifetime risk of developing invasive lung cancer\n \t1 in 21 \u2013 A Black women\u2019s lifetime risk of developing invasive lung cancer\n \t1 in 21 \u2013 A Black man\u2019s risk of dying from lung cancer\n \t1 in 29 \u2013 A Black woman\u2019s risk of dying from lung cancer\n\nwe are here for you\nFor more information or to schedule an appointment, call 844-346-7222. You can also schedule an appointment by calling the RCCA location nearest you.\nRELATED ARTICLES\nRegional Cancer Care Associates is one of fewer than 200 medical practices in the country selected to participate in the Oncology Care Model (OCM); a recent Medicare initiative aimed at improving care coordination and access to and quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries undergoing chemotherapy treatment.\n\u00a9 2022 Regional Cancer Care Associates. All rights reserved.","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/black-americans-and-lung-cancer-rcca-doctors-outline-4-ways-you-can-combat-a-deadly-disparity\/"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"LocalBusiness","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"Corporate Office 25 Main Street, Suite 601","postalCode":"07601","addressRegion":"NJ","addressLocality":"Hackensack","addressCountry":"USA","name":"Postal Address","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/#PostalAddress"},"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":"1024","height":"468","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/themes\/rccah\/dist\/images\/RCCA_logo.jpg","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/themes\/rccah\/dist\/images\/RCCA_logo.jpg"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/themes\/rccah\/dist\/images\/RCCA_logo.jpg"},"contactPoint":[{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactOption":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/#ContactPointOption","availableLanguage":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/English_language","areaServed":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_Jersey","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hackensack,_New_Jersey"],"contactType":"customer support","telephone":"+1 (844) 346-7222","email":"info@regionalcancercare.org","description":"Corporate Office Regional Cancer Care Associates 25 Main Street, Suite 601 Hackensack, NJ 07601 info@regionalcancercare.org Phone: (844) 346-7222","name":"Contact Corporate Office","image":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/RCCA_logo-300x137.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/#CorporateOffice"},{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactOption":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/#ContactPointOption","availableLanguage":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/English_language","areaServed":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_Jersey","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hackensack,_New_Jersey"],"contactType":"customer support","telephone":"+1 (201) 510-0922","email":"msalvemini@regionalcancercare.org","description":"Media Inquiries: Mary Lou Salvemini Regional Cancer Care Associates Phone: (201) 510-0922 Email: msalvemini@regionalcancercare.org","name":"Contact Media Inquiries","image":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/RCCA_logo-300x137.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/contact\/#MediaInquiries"}],"areaServed":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hackensack,_New_Jersey","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/New_Jersey"],"additionalType":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Treatment_of_cancer","alternateName":"RCCA","description":"Leaders in Advanced Compassionate Cancer Care. Fight cancer with leading-edge treatments, experienced skill and local caring\/convenience from one of the nation's largest networks of cancer specialists.","email":"info@regionalcancercare.org","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/","sameAs":["https:\/\/twitter.com\/rgnlcancercare","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/regionalcancercareassoc","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/10059183","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCFlVzU4UvZcyXBCe9ZSvAUQ"],"telephone":"+1 (844) 346-7222","name":"Regional Cancer Care Associates","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/"}],{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Black Americans and Lung Cancer: RCCA Doctors Outline 4 Ways You Can Combat a Deadly Disparity","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/black-americans-and-lung-cancer-rcca-doctors-outline-4-ways-you-can-combat-a-deadly-disparity\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]