Late stage cancer diagnoses affect ethnic minorities most
Monday January 30th 2023
Women from Caribbean and African backgrounds are up to two times more likely to receive a late stage diagnosis for some cancers than white British women in England, a new study has revealed.
Analysis by Cancer Research UK and NHS Digital, published in BMJ Open, has found ethnicity is a significant factor in stage of diagnosis for women in England.
Caribbean and African women are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with late stage uterine cancer, while Caribbean women are more likely to receive a late stage diagnosis for NSCLC, ovarian, colon, and breast cancers than their white British counterparts.
The study found African women are 85% more likely to be diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer and 71% more likely for breast cancer.
Women from Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani backgrounds are 21% and 12% more likely to receive late stage ovarian and breast cancer diagnoses respectively, according to the findings.
There were no significant differences found between Chinese and White British women.
Cancer Research UK said there were many possible reasons behind the late diagnoses, including poorer symptom awareness, delays in seeking help and having to present to the GP several times before being referred for tests.
It called on the government to increase cancer awareness as well as screening uptake among ethnic minority groups.
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “Everyone deserves the best cancer care, from diagnosis to treatment. The fact that women from Black and South Asian backgrounds are more likely to be diagnosed with late stage cancer, when treatment is less likely to be successful, is deeply troubling.
“More concerning still, is that we know the number of cancer cases diagnosed in ethnic minority groups is likely to grow over time. Meaning without any action, this gap will only continue to widen.
“Whilst the Health and Social Care Secretary’s recent decision to drop its promised 10-year cancer plan is disappointing, it is now critical that the new ‘catch-all’ major conditions strategy sets out how the Government will reduce the inequalities that persist in cancer care.”
A biennial survey carried out by YouGov for Cancer Research UK in September 2022 found that 23% of women from an ethnic minority background reported they did not know any warning signs and symptoms of cancer compared to 12% of white women.
It also found that women from an ethnic minority background were more likely to delay or avoid speaking to a medical professional than white women because of embarrassment and lack of confidence.
Study author Jon Shelton, Cancer Research UK’s head of cancer intelligence, said: “A cancer diagnosis is a scary thing. But the earlier it’s spotted, the better your chances of surviving. That’s why tackling known barriers to help seeking, whether that’s fear or difficulty accessing a GP, is so important – so more people come forward with symptoms.
“But we also need the Government to ensure primary care and diagnostic services are properly resourced. If people can’t get appointments that work for them, aren’t being referred for tests in a timely way or are stuck on waiting lists they will not see the benefits of early diagnosis. And we risk making these inequalities worse.”
Fry A., White B, Nagarwalla D et al. Relationship between ethnicity and stage at diagnosis in England: a national analysis of six cancer sites. BMJ Open 27 January 2023; doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-062079
Tags: Cancer | NHS | UK News | Women's Health & Gynaecology
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