“Analysis of tumor registry data (from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER) program) found that only 9.4% of cervical cancers among white women were diagnosed at a late stage compared with 13.8% for black women. Mortality rates were consistent with this differential: 69.6% of white women with cervical cancer survived for 5 years, compared with only 56.4% of black women.”

“Except for the first 3 years of the study period (1976-1990), black women were significantly more likely to have had their cervical cancer diagnosed late compared with white women. Further, the disparity in these outcomes has been growing with time. Even after controlling for income level, age at diagnosis, and metropolitan area, black women and Hispanic women were more likely to have had their cervical cancer diagnosed late compared with white women.”

“Our study documented for the first time that these outcomes have worsened with time for black women and low-income women with cervical cancer. Despite the efficacy of Pap tests as a screening tool, problems may still arise of the smears are not diagnosed correctly, or if physicians fail to follow up on positive test results. Our results raise disturbing questions about the equity of access to cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment services. Similar inequities also have been shown for breast cancer screening, suggesting that black women and poor women may face barriers to primary care services more generally. More research is needed to determine why poor women and women of color are more likely to be diagnosed late and why the late-stage diagnosis appears to be growing for some women.”