“Our research shows that structural barriers in segregated neighborhoods continue to delay diagnosis for breast and cervical cancers—even among individuals eligible for screening,” said Dr. Qinran Liu, post-doctoral fellow, cancer disparities research at ACS, and lead author of the study. “But there is positive news. We found no disparities in stage at diagnosis for colorectal cancer. This may in part reflect the impact of local equity-focused initiatives for early detection of colorectal cancer in NYC. However, the results for colorectal cancer may not be applicable to other areas, especially those without such early detection initiatives.”
“Our findings have direct implications for cancer prevention and early detection efforts by identifying neighborhoods with the greatest disparities in stage at diagnosis,” Dr. Liu added. “This information can inform targeted resource allocation and guide interventions such as patient navigation services and investments in healthcare infrastructure—strategies that can facilitate earlier diagnosis with the goal of improving outcomes.”
