A former assistant professor for Southern Illinois University, Dr. Sabha Ganai is a senior ethics fellow for the University of Chicago. In this role, Dr. Sabha Ganai researches the driving forces fueling cancer health disparities.
Cancer disparities refer to any difference in outcomes, diagnosis, and prevalence based on social groups. The reasons for these disparities can be economic, genetic, environmental, or blend of several factors. Some of the most common disparities include:
1. Mortality rates – Some demographics are more likely to be diagnosed with more aggressive forms of cancer at later stages, which can increase the mortality rate. A myriad of factors contributes to increased cancer mortality rates for African-American women, even though they are less likely to develop cancer than White women.
2. Cancer types – Likewise, cancer prevalence doesn’t translate into higher mortality rates. For example, while Indigenous women and Latinas are more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer, African-American women have a greater likelihood of dying from the disease.
3. Screening rates – Many times, mortality rates and screening habits are correlated. It is believed that a lack of screening contributes to African-American women facing a higher risk of dying of cervical cancer and the overall increased risk of developing cancer associated with a lower socioeconomic status.
Dr. Sabha Ganai 