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Britton MC, Izampuye E, Clark M, Ornstein RA, Nunez-Smith M, Wright JD, Xu X. Diagnostic experiences of Black and White patients with uterine cancer: A qualitative study. Gynecol Oncol 2024; 191:67-73. [PMID: 39362045 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2024.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 09/05/2024] [Accepted: 09/15/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore patient experiences with the diagnosis process for uterine cancer and the perceived barriers that may affect early diagnosis and racial disparities in stage at diagnosis. METHODS We conducted semi-structured interviews to ascertain the diagnostic journey of 11 non-Hispanic Black ("Black") and 11 non-Hispanic White ("White") patients who were diagnosed with uterine cancer in the past six months. All interviews were audio-recorded, professionally transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings were presented to patients and community advocates for critical review and feedback before being finalized. RESULTS Respondents had a median age of 64 years. Thirteen (59.1 %) had stage I tumor, whereas nine (40.9 %) had stage II-IV disease. Respondents were attentive to their symptoms but unaware that they could indicate uterine cancer. This was compounded by women's conditioned acceptance of discomfort and disconnection from gynecological care after reproductive age. Respondents often viewed racial disparities in diagnosis through other social determinants of health, including gender, age, and healthcare access. These overlapping social experiences, coupled with respondents' concentration on recovery, may mask their perceptions about systemic racism. Although few respondents noted negative experiences in their own evaluations leading to the diagnosis of uterine cancer, Black respondents often described how previous discriminatory experiences informed a wariness of healthcare systems. CONCLUSION Lack of public awareness of uterine cancer, gendered expectations for discomfort, and disconnection from gynecologic care all interfered with early diagnosis of uterine cancer. Discriminatory experiences in prior healthcare further complicate Black patients' engagement with the healthcare system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith Campbell Britton
- Equity Research and Innovation Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America.
| | - Elizabeth Izampuye
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Mitchell Clark
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Ruth Ann Ornstein
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Marcella Nunez-Smith
- Equity Research and Innovation Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States of America
| | - Jason D Wright
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Xiao Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States of America
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Illah O, Adeeko D, Olaitan A, Gentry-Maharaj A. Racioethnic Disparities in Endometrial Cancer Outcomes. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:417. [PMID: 38396458 PMCID: PMC10887632 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14040417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Black women are twice as likely to die from endometrial cancer (EC) compared with white women. This represents one of the worst racioethnic disparities amongst all cancers globally. Compared with white women, black women are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced EC, have more barriers to accessing care and experience increased delays in obtaining an EC diagnosis and commencing treatment. Histological and molecular differences place black women at higher risk of being diagnosed with more aggressive EC subtypes that carry less favourable outcomes. Furthermore, EC diagnostic pathways are less reliable in black women, and black women are less likely to receive evidence-based treatment for EC. This racioethnic disparity in EC outcomes exists both in the UK and US, despite differences in healthcare systems. This review methodically describes the key factors along the patient journey that contribute to the disparity in black women and proposes multifaceted approaches to lessen these gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ojone Illah
- Department of Women’s Cancer, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Deborah Adeeko
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London WC1E 6AU, UK
| | - Adeola Olaitan
- Department of Women’s Cancer, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Aleksandra Gentry-Maharaj
- Department of Women’s Cancer, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, University College London, London WC1V 6LJ, UK
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Abstract
Each year, the American Cancer Society estimates the numbers of new cancer cases and deaths in the United States and compiles the most recent data on population-based cancer occurrence and outcomes using incidence data collected by central cancer registries (through 2020) and mortality data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics (through 2021). In 2024, 2,001,140 new cancer cases and 611,720 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the United States. Cancer mortality continued to decline through 2021, averting over 4 million deaths since 1991 because of reductions in smoking, earlier detection for some cancers, and improved treatment options in both the adjuvant and metastatic settings. However, these gains are threatened by increasing incidence for 6 of the top 10 cancers. Incidence rates increased during 2015-2019 by 0.6%-1% annually for breast, pancreas, and uterine corpus cancers and by 2%-3% annually for prostate, liver (female), kidney, and human papillomavirus-associated oral cancers and for melanoma. Incidence rates also increased by 1%-2% annually for cervical (ages 30-44 years) and colorectal cancers (ages <55 years) in young adults. Colorectal cancer was the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in both men and women younger than 50 years in the late-1990s but is now first in men and second in women. Progress is also hampered by wide persistent cancer disparities; compared to White people, mortality rates are two-fold higher for prostate, stomach and uterine corpus cancers in Black people and for liver, stomach, and kidney cancers in Native American people. Continued national progress will require increased investment in cancer prevention and access to equitable treatment, especially among American Indian and Alaska Native and Black individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Siegel
- Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Ahmedin Jemal
- Surveillance and Health Equity Science, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Lee NK, Tiro JA, Odunsi K. Disparities in Gynecologic Cancers. Cancer J 2023; 29:343-353. [PMID: 37963369 DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Gynecologic cancer disparities have different trends by cancer type and by sociodemographic/economic factors. We highlight disparities in the United States arising due to poor delivery of cancer care across the continuum from primary prevention, detection, and diagnosis through treatment and identify opportunities to eliminate/reduce disparities to achieve cancer health equity. Our review documents the persistent racial and ethnic disparities in cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancer outcomes, with Black patients experiencing the worst outcomes, and notes literature investigating social determinants of health, particularly access to care. Although timely delivery of screening and diagnostic evaluation is of paramount importance for cervical cancer, efforts for ovarian and uterine cancer need to focus on timely recognition of symptoms, diagnostic evaluation, and delivery of guideline-concordant cancer treatment, including tumor biomarker and somatic/germline genetic testing.
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Xu X, Chen L, Nunez-Smith M, Clark M, Wright JD. Timeliness of diagnostic evaluation for postmenopausal bleeding: A retrospective cohort study using claims data. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289692. [PMID: 37682914 PMCID: PMC10490884 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) is a common gynecologic condition. Although it can be a sign of uterine cancer, most patients have benign etiology. However, research on quality of diagnostic evaluation for PMB has been limited to cancer patients. To extend this research, we examined the timeliness of diagnostic evaluation for PMB among patients with benign conditions. METHODS Using the 2008-2019 MarketScan Research Databases, we identified 499176 patients (456741 with commercial insurance and 42435 with Medicaid insurance) who presented with PMB but did not have gynecologic cancer. For each patient, we measured the time from their PMB reporting to the date of their first diagnostic procedure. The association between patient characteristics and time to first diagnostic procedure was examined using Cox proportional hazards models (for the overall sample and then stratified by insurance type). RESULTS Overall, 54.3% of patients received a diagnostic procedure on the same day when they reported PMB and 86.6% received a diagnostic procedure within 12 months after reporting PMB. These percentages were 39.4% and 77.1%, respectively, for Medicaid patients, compared to 55.7% and 87.4%, respectively, for commercially insured patients (p<0.001 for both). Medicaid patients had an 18% lower rate of receiving a diagnostic procedure at any given time point than commercially insured patients (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.81-0.83). Meanwhile, older age and non-gynecologic comorbidities were associated with a lower rate whereas concomitant gynecologic conditions and recent use of preventive care were associated with a higher rate of receiving diagnostic procedures. Analysis stratified by insurance type identified additional risk factors for delayed diagnostic procedures (e.g., non-metropolitan versus metropolitan location for commercially insured patients and Black versus White race for Medicaid patients). CONCLUSION A sizable proportion of patients did not receive prompt diagnostic evaluation for PMB. Both clinical and non-clinical factors could affect timeliness of evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Xu
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Yale Cancer Outcomes, Public Policy and Effectiveness Research (COPPER) Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Ling Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Marcella Nunez-Smith
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Mitchell Clark
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Jason D. Wright
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, United States of America
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Beavis AL, Blechter B, Najjar O, Fader AN, Katebi Kashi P, Rositch AF. Identifying women 45 years and younger at elevated risk for endometrial hyperplasia or cancer. Gynecol Oncol 2023; 174:98-105. [PMID: 37172411 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2023.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of, and identify risk factors associated with, endometrial hyperplasia and/or cancer (EH/EC) in patients ≤45 years old undergoing endometrial sampling for abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients 18-45 years old with AUB who underwent endometrial sampling between 2016 and 2019 within a US-based multi-hospital system using billing code queries. We used multivariable Poisson regression to identify factors associated with EH/EC and calculated prevalence stratified by these factors. We estimated predicted probabilities within combinations of characteristics in order to examine the range of risk in this population. RESULTS Among 3175 patients, median age was 39 years (interquartile range [IQR]:35-43) and BMI was 29.7 kg/m2 (IQR: 24.2-36.9). Thirty-nine percent were non-Hispanic White, 41% non-Hispanic Black, 9% Hispanic, and 11% Asian/Other/Unknown. BMI and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) were associated with higher EH/EC risk; non-Hispanic Black race was associated with lower risk. EH/EC prevalence ranged from 2% in BMI <25 to 16% in BMI ≥50 kg/m2 (p-trend <0.001). These prevalence estimates differed by race/ethnicity with the lowest estimates in non-Hispanic Black patients (0.5% BMI <25 vs. 9% BMI ≥50) and highest in Hispanic patients (1.5% BMI <25 vs. 33% BMI ≥50). Accounting for combinations of risk factors, predicted probabilities were highest - 34-36% - among patients with PCOS, diabetes, BMI ≥50, and Hispanic or Asian/Other/Unknown race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS When accounting for combinations of key risk factors, risk of EH/EC in patients ≤45 years old with AUB ranges widely; the more nuanced estimates of risk presented here could help inform clinical decision-making about endometrial sampling in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L Beavis
- The Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America.
| | - Batel Blechter
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Omar Najjar
- The Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Amanda N Fader
- The Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Payam Katebi Kashi
- The Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Anne F Rositch
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
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