Study: Black Colorectal Cancer Survival Rate Same as for Whites

African Americans have almost an identical colorectal cancer survival rate to whites when they get equivalent treatment, according to a new study by researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

"When you look at national statistics, African-American patients with colon cancer do worse than Caucasians," said Dr. Charles S. Fuchs. "What I think our study offers is that when they get equal access to state-of-the-art oncology care, the outcome is equivalent."

Fuchs and his colleagues reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on survival outcomes and toxicity for 344 black patients and 3,036 white patients who took part in chemotherapy trials for colorectal cancer.

Five-year disease-free survival was 57 percent for African Americans and 58 percent for whites, and overall survival was 65 percent for black patients and 66 percent for whites.

Interestingly, the study found African Americans generally had fewer treatment-related side effects.

Nausea was reported during treatment by 47 percent of black patients and 61 percent of white patients; vomiting was reported by 24 percent of blacks and 31 percent of whites and diarrhea was reported by 51 percent of blacks and 75 percent of whites.

Other Sources: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, The Advocate