A recent study presented at Digestive Disease Week 2024 in Washington, D.C., has raised concerns about the increasing rates of gallbladder cancer among Black Americans.
While gallbladder cancer rates have remained stable or declined for most other racial groups, the findings reveal a disturbing trend of rising incidence and late-stage diagnoses among Black individuals.
“Gallbladder cancer diagnosis at a late stage can be highly detrimental,”Dr. Yazan Abboud, lead researcher and internal medicine resident at Rutgers University New Jersey Medical School said. “Increasing a person’s risk of death and leading to more intensive and complex cancer treatment.”
The study, which analyzed records for nearly 77,000 patients diagnosed with gallbladder cancer between 2001 and 2020 in the U.S. Cancer Statistics database, paints a troubling picture. While gallbladder cancer rates were stable among White individuals and declined slightly for Hispanic people, they increased by more than 1% per year, on average, for Black individuals.
Even more concerning is the fact that detection of late-stage tumors among Black patients increased by nearly 3% annually during the study period. This disparity in late-stage diagnoses is particularly alarming, as gallbladder cancer often presents with few to no symptoms in its early stages, making it challenging to detect.
According to researchers, this cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, with a five-year survival rate of just 19%. Alarmingly, about 43% of the cancers analyzed in the study were found in late stages, with nearly 44% of those cases occurring in Black patients, compared to 41% in White and Hispanic individuals. Abboud says, “This could be due to a lack of timely access to healthcare leading to delayed diagnosis.”
Late-stage symptoms of the disease include abdominal pain or bloating, unexplained weight loss, and yellowing of the skin and eyes. These symptoms are often nonspecific and may be attributed to other conditions, leading to delayed diagnosis and poorer outcomes, particularly among marginalized communities.
Researchers emphasize the importance of future investigations into the underlying reasons behind these racial disparities. Understanding the factors contributing to late-stage diagnoses among Black Americans is crucial for developing strategies to improve early detection and ultimately reduce the burden of gallbladder cancer within the Black population.
It is essential to raise awareness surrounding gallbladder cancer and to advocate for increased access to screening and diagnostic services. Early detection is key to improving outcomes and saving lives.
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