Racism in Breast Cancer Treatment

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Introduction

Cancer treatment is the least studied field that arises numerous ambiguities and requires a more sophisticated approach in studying. There is still no unanimous opinion among the scholars and therapists towards what approach to use in cancer therapy and what are the reasons of cancer. The racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities only aggravate the situation since they create a significant barrier that is difficult to overcome. In addition, the comprehensiveness of therapy cannot be objectively evaluated since there are cases when ethnic minorities are provided with treatment only at the later stages of cancer development. Moreover, the variations in lung of breast cancer directly depend on the socioeconomic conditions the racial and ethnic groups live in.

Main Body

Racial and ethical prejudices in terms of risks

Under the influence of racial discrimination, African Americans experience enormous risks in treatment. In particular, black women who suffer from breast cancer were treated by the radiation therapy and were not expected to obtain rehabilitation support services (Nelson et al 153). Viewing biological peculiarities of the racial minorities, it was found out that African Americans and Native Hawaiians have greater susceptibility to the lung cancer than, for instance, Latinos and Japanese Americans. The risks of lethal termination of the national minorities often depend on the age category and different susceptibility. This may result in emergence of greater risks of cancer death of Hawaiian among other minority groups. American Indians and Alaskans, for example have the highest risks of cancer outcome but for colorectal cancer suffered by males (Dow 5). The disparity, here, lies in different abilities to metabolize nicotine due to the variation in blood rates of cotinine and nicotine (Koh 123). The risks taken by the racial groups are mostly predetermined by the limited availability and less adequate therapy. The high level of mortality also occurs among the minorities under the influence of the social and economic factors.

The role of race and social environment pertaining to health care access and treatment

The research established that &Afro-Americans were less likely than whites to have health insurance& (Nelson et al 53). Hence, they are not likely to be treated by the certified physicians thus undergoing greater difficulties in cancer therapy. The negligence revealed in treatment is not justified but is evident and still exist despite the rise of equality rights. The unequal proportion in providing services for the black has been hardly improved nowadays since few representatives of the minority groups have an access to a qualified treatment. The post-treatment was less accessible as well. Ethnic group was not likely to perceive the pain medicines and suffer pain oftener than white people.

Following the racial disparities in lung cancer treatment in more detail, numerous barriers might affect the equitable therapy. Considering this, it is necessary to mention that the most effective way to treat the lung cancer is surgical lung resection since it increases the chances to survive. Nonetheless, the research discovers that the racial and ethnical disparities give fewer possibilities to receive such a medical aid due to the absence of the insurance coverage and a diligent access to the health care organization. As a result, the cancer may reach the latest stage that causes the impossibility for a person to fully recover. Socioeconomic status also influences income of the African Americans and Latinos so that their less probability of survival from the procedures are also due to the transportation difficulties (Koh, 125).

The effects of maltreatment judging upon the ethnic, racial and socioeconomic disparities

The conventional therapy of breast cancer that takes place among the African American and Hispanic women leaves much to be desired. Regarding this, African American women experience breast cancer twice often that white women due to the apparent variation in clinical treatment. Together with Hispanic women, black women showed the higher prevalence of the negative diagnosis thus constituting less quality of medical services (Dow 6).

Jugging upon the geographical factors and the cultural conditions, it is worth saying that regional cancer prevalence was due to the absence of equality, education, and revenues. The closer investigation showed that breast cancer trends are likely to spread in California, the region with the high migration level and with higher process of the ethnic communities (Dow 7). In this respect, the prevalence rate differs greatly from the death rate in other areas where the homogeneous population mostly prevails. The main reason for it is the reject of the medical care organization to recognize the actual situation thus neglecting the human rights and principles of equality. Considering the risks, quality of treatment, and prevalence speed, it is necessary to mention that racial as well as social disparities might cause the rise of genetic susceptibility to the cancer. The situation also determines the rise of cancer risks among the national minorities and therefore further negligence of the evident problem may lead to the aggravation of the health care situation. In addition, the medical establishment must take into consideration the moral issues while treating African American and Hispanic people.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is necessary to mention that the problem of the cancer treatment is the most difficult one and therefore it leaves no place for the racial and ethnic issues. In other words, oncologists should follow the medical ethic as well as the human laws of equality and objective treatment. Moreover, the health care establishments should pay the least attention to the social status of their patient thus granting them a qualified aid and excluding the racial prejudices from the health care practice.

Works Cited

Dow, Karen Hassey. Contemporary issues in breast cancer: a nursing perspective. US: Johns & Bartlett Publishers, 2004.

Koh, Howard. Towards the Elimination of Cancer Disparities. US: Springer, 2009.

Nelson, Alan Ray & Institute of Medicine. Unequal treatment: confronting racial and ethnic disparities in health care. US: National Academies Press, 2003.

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