OVARIAN CANCER HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG POC: YVONNE VILLALOBOS

OVARIAN CANCER: HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG WOC (women of color)

General Knowledge

 According to the American Cancer Society's Cancer Facts & Figures for 2021, the mortality rate for ovarian cancer is higher in Black and Hispanic women than in White women. The age-adjusted ovarian cancer death rates for 2014-2018 per 100,000 women are: White women: 8.4, Black                                                                                            women: 11.6, and Hispanic women: 8.1

    Black women have a 38% higher mortality rate from ovarian cancer than White women, while Hispanic women have a similar rate to White women. It's important to note that these statistics are based on population-level data and may not reflect individual risk factors or experiences.

    There are several factors that contribute to the higher mortality rates for Hispanic and Black women with ovarian cancer compared to White women. 

Here are some reasons:

• Access to Healthcare: Hispanic and Black women are more likely to experience disparities in access to healthcare, which can delay the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.

• Socioeconomic Status: Socioeconomic factors such as poverty, lower education levels, and lower income may contribute to health disparities in ovarian cancer outcomes among minority women.

• Genetics: Genetic differences between different racial and ethnic groups may also play a role in ovarian cancer outcomes. For example, specific genetic mutations, such as the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, are more common in certain populations and may increase the risk of ovarian cancer.

• Biological Differences: There may be physical differences in the tumors of women from different racial and ethnic groups, which could impact how cancer responds to treatment.

• Cultural Beliefs: Cultural beliefs and practices may also influence healthcare decisions and attitudes toward cancer treatment, which could impact ovarian cancer outcomes.

    Addressing these disparities requires a multi-faceted approach that includes improving access to healthcare, addressing socioeconomic factors, increasing awareness of ovarian cancer risks, and understanding the biological and cultural factors that may impact treatment outcomes.

Research

• "Diversity in Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trials: A Call to Action" by Ann H. Klopp and Karen H. Lu, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2019, discusses the lack of diversity in ovarian cancer clinical trials and provides recommendations for improving representation.

Link:

https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.19.01338

• "Inclusion of Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trials" by Katherine E. Tucker and J. Alejandro Rauh-Hain, published in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2020, examines the underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minorities in ovarian cancer clinical trials and offers potential solutions. 

Link: https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2020/10000/Inclusion_of_Racial_and_Ethnic_Minorities_in.18.aspx

Why do I care?

    All women have distinctive health requirements that vary from men, particularly regarding reproductive health. And maintaining good women's health is crucial for ensuring the optimal functioning of reproductive organs, safe and timely pregnancies, and healthy childbirths. In addition, having access to high-quality women's health services and education is vital for achieving gender equality and empowering women. When women have good health, they can fully engage in economic, social, and political activities, making significant contributions to the overall development of society.

    The driving force behind promoting diversity and inclusivity in ovarian cancer clinical trials is to generate more robust and universally applicable data, enhance trust, expand accessibility and participation, and ultimately, foster better equitable health outcomes, advance health equity, mitigate biases, champion social justice, and produce innovative scientific breakthroughs.

   

****DISCLAIMER: I have met multiple women at my workplace who have all been struggling with ovarian cancer; thus, posting interviews would fall under a violation of HIPPA law. But I would like to reiterate that most of these WOC did not get referred by a doctor or oncologist due to health biases or refused clinical trials due to mistrust of big pharma, which could have potentially given a better quality of care if only they had proper access to these options at their disposal, but most do not know or get offered an opportunity to be in clinical trials. Consequently,  all have had their conditions complicated because of the lack of health literacy, healthcare staff biases, and the embarrassment of using preventative care exams to avoid the spread of this disease. 

PLEASE SHARE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

IT COULD MEAN LIFE OR DEATH FOR A LOVED ONE