Disparities Between Black and White Cancer Patients

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Recommended: Prejudice and discrimination in society

The main objective of this study was to examine the disparities between Black and White cancer patients through numerous avenues: information exchanges during oncology interactions, dosage levels of adjuvant chemotherapy, administration of standard or nonstandard chemotherapy, encouragement of “watchful waiting” or “active surveillance”, administration of definitive therapy (surgery or radiation), quality of medical facilities, health plans, past discrimination, and stereotyping or bias from treatment providers. The main argument regarding this specific social problem is as noted, “…although biological, genetic, and physiological factors play significant roles in who develops cancer, how it is treated, and who survives it, social political, economic, and psychological variables also substantially contribute to cancer racial/ethnic disparities in treatment outcomes” (Penner 329).
Conflict theory is primarily derived by analyzing the data and reading descriptions. It comes from the mind of Karl Marx, and explains how there are power structures in society that separate the “haves” from the “have-nots”. The ideas of the “haves” trickle down all through society to ensure that the dominant class maintains the dominant position – a hegemonic ideal. Although Conflict theory’s ideas are more in regard to class, one must note that race intersects with class. This journal article uses Conflict theory to explain how the powerfully dominant race (Whites) generally receives better cancer treatment and, therefore, has a higher rate of survival than Black Americans.
This social issue is not present only in the United States, but through all the major industrial countries. According to public health data from numerous countries, “…disadvantage...

... middle of paper ...

... previous page shows that there is a strong correlation between the dependent and independent variables. As unfortunate as the topic of worse healthcare for “minority” races is, the findings were not surprising. Prejudice and discrimination against the races may not be as blatant as it was during the Jim Crowe era, but it has become underlying through the works of powerful institutions, health care being a prime example.
These findings could influence social policy through reforming the hiring process for Doctors and Nurses. Tests should be created to analyze bias against the races to aid in stopping institutional racism.

References:
Penner, Louis A. (2012). Life-Threatening Disparities: The Treatment of Black and White
Cancer Patients. Journal of Social Issues. 8(2). 328-357.
Health Information National Trends Survey. http://hints.cancer.gov/instrument.aspx

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