Dr. Burnham on Health Disparities in Prostate Cancer

Leanne Burnham, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, Division of Health Equities, City of Hope, discusses health disparities in prostate cancer.

Health disparities have been present in the United States for decades but became more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, says Burnham. In prostate cancer, the field has been aware of racial health disparities and research efforts are ongoing to bridge these gaps in this disease, Burnham explains.

For example, Black men are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer compared with White men, says Burnham. Additionally, Black men are likely to present with advanced-stage disease and are twice as likely to die from their disease vs White men, Burnham adds.

Overall, factors including genetic predisposition, biology, diet and lifestyle, access to care, socioeconomic status, and personal health beliefs contribute to these health disparities, Burnham concludes.