Cancer Health Disparities

While advances in cancer care have improved early detection, treatment and survivorship, disparities remain in cancer burden and survivorship among different populations in New Mexico. Not all segments of the population have benefited equally from cancer prevention and control efforts.

Health disparities are differences in disease diagnosis, treatment and outcome that are due to age, sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic group, education, geography, language and sexual orientation, among other factors.

Age, sex and racial/ethnic differences generally account for many of the disparities in the burden of cancer in New Mexico, including differences in exposure to risk for cancer, access to care and quality of care. These disparities may result in higher rates of getting certain cancers and in lower survival rates from certain cancers among certain populations.^{1New Mexico Cancer Plan 2007 – 2011, New Mexico Department of Health, Cancer disparities goal and objectives, pg. 27.} Research also shows that people who don’t have access to healthcare are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage diseases that might have been treated more effectively or cured if diagnosed earlier. ^{2National Cancer Institute website.}

For more information on cancer health disparities, click here.