Study looks to identify factors leading to cancer in Black women

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – More than two million new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2024, according to the American Cancer Society, despite significant strides in cancer research. 

Black women continue to have the highest death rate and the shortest survival of any racial or ethnic group for most cancers. A new study is aiming to change that. 

RELATED: Black women much more likely to die of breast cancer than white women, American Cancer Society says

It’s called “Voices of Black Women” and it’s aimed at addressing cancer disparities. 

“But we need to really get at what those multilevel drivers are to understand how we can best intervene,” said Alpa Patel, Senior Vice President of Population Science with the American Cancer Society. 

The organization said about one-in-three Black men and women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and one in six Black women will die from the disease. Factors that influence cancer disparities include structural racism, socioeconomic status, access to care, other health conditions and medical mistrust. 

“But there’s so much more to that story that we still don’t understand as it relates to cancer inequities for Black women,” Patel said. 

That’s why researchers started this study, hoping to enroll at least 100,000 cancer-free Black women between the ages of 25 and 55 in 21 states. After eligibility conformation and consent to participate, those taking part will fill out a health and lifestyle survey. After that, surveys to update or collect new information will be sent out twice a year for the next 20 to 30 years. 

“It’s really about an hour of time from the participant’s perspective on an annual basis to go on this journey with us, to help us uncover the different factors that may be related to how we can improve the health of Black women for future generations,” Patel said. 

Enrollment opened May 6 in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington D.C. 

For more information on the program and how to enroll, click here. 

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