This study based at 12 medical centers within the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital system focusing on 704 black and white male patients was performed to discover explanations for the apparent shorter survival of blacks than whites with lung and colon cancer.

“Blacks had a significantly lower frequency of prior tumor resection and a significantly increased frequency of mediastinal lymph node involvement and of metastases than whites. Trends existed toward a shorter time interval from original diagnosis to entry and a lower frequency of prior radiation therapy among blacks in comparison with whites at the time of entry to the study. However, no differences in intensity of treatment or follow-up, time to progression, response to treatment, or overall survival (measured from entry to the study to death) were observed for blacks vs whites.”

“We postulate that lung and colon cancer outcomes may be similar among black and white patients who receive equal access to comparable medical care in spite of socioeconomic differences.”

“These findings suggested that racial factors may have been operative prior to the time of entry to the health care system that may have been similar to Greenberg, et al. For example, blacks may have responded later to symptoms, had poorer disease surveillance, or otherwise had reduced willingness or opportunity to receive timely treatment.