
In a recent study titled “
VA Study Reveals No Race Disparities in Prostate Cancer Outcomes”, published in
Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases, researchers found that among
prostate cancer patients who receive medical care in the
Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system, there are no significant differences in tumor burden, treatment choice, and survival outcomes between black and white men.
“The observed lack of disparity in outcomes between African Americans and Caucasians may be due to their receipt of care in the equal-access VA healthcare system, which may eliminate or reduce major barriers in access to care for African Americans,” the authors write in their
study.
In earlier studies, a 48% higher incidence of prostate cancer along with an increased risk of death was found among black men. Furthermore, at the time of diagnosis, black men had higher
prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels and bigger tumors, with an increased tendency to present an advanced form of this disease.
In this study, the research team led by Timo