Breast cancer accounts for about 30% (or 1 in 3) of all new female cancers each year. And, each woman has a 1 in 8 chance (approximately 13%) of having breast caner in her life. While those number can sound scary, it’s also important to note that due to advances in healthcare, breast cancer death rates have decreased steadily since 1989, with an overall decline of 42% through 2021. This is great news for many, but some women who have been diagnosed have had to also deal with disparities in healthcare and their treatments.
So, what do you do if you feel like you’re not getting the treatment you deserve, or are being discriminated against for something you can not change? Here’s everything you should know, and how you can advocate for your right to proper healthcare.
What are healthcare disparities?
Simply put, healthcare disparities are differences in health and healthcare between groups that result from larger inequities. Health disparities as “preventable differences in the burden, disease, injury, violence, or in opportunities to achieve optimal health experienced by socially disadvantaged racial, ethnic, and other population groups and communities.” Healthcare disparities can effect these groups in many ways, including health insurance coverage, affordability, access to and use of care, and care quality.
Though healthcare is essential for good health, research shows that many health outcomes are influenced by a variety of factors, like underlying genetics, social and environmental factors, and simply having access (or a lack of access) to healthcare. In fact, studies indicate that health behaviors and social and economic factors are the primary drivers of health outcomes, and that social and economic factors shape individuals’ health behaviors. Furthermore, racism has a negative impact on both mental and physical health, creating inequities as well. And if that wasn’t enough, these disparities also cause a financial burden on these groups.
While healthcare disparities are mainly seen as disparities based on race and/or ethnicity, they are much broader than that. Disparities can happen to any socioeconomic status, age, geography, language, gender, disability status, citizenship status, and sexual identity and orientation. It’s also important to remember that these groups are not mutually exclusive, and they frequently intersect. Disparities also exist within subgroups of populations. An example from KFF research showed that Hispanic people’s health and health care experiences varied depending on their length of stay in the country, their primary language, and their immigration status.
So, what can we do, and why should we all care about this issue?
Why You Should Care About Healthcare Disparities
When we’re going about our daily lives, it’s hard to look at the other side of things. This can be especially true if you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, or really any cancer/health issue. Your main focus is going to be not only your survival, but your care and likely your loved ones. But, here’s why healthcare disparities affect you too, even if you don’t think they do.
First, let’s talk about how it’s a steep price to pay. According to many studies, racial health disparities cost us lost productivity and raises health insurance and payment prices.
If that wasn’t enough, another study showcased that the total burden of racial and ethnic health disparities was $451 billion, or $1,377 per person. That’s around 2% of the US GDP, comparable to the economy’s annual growth rate in 2018. In other words, you alone are technically paying an extra $1,400 per year due to these disparities.
In addition to being costly, disparities harm the nation’s overall health. This is because groups with limited resources tend to have higher rates of illness and death from a variety of preventable conditions. This includes cancer screenings that could save someone’s health. It can also lower life expectancy amongst these groups overall.
There are plenty of instances of premature avoidable mortality, especially amongst the following groups:
- Preventable mortality rates higher for both Black and white residents in many southern and south-central states — including Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri — compared to most other parts of the country.
- For Alaskan Indian and indigenous peoples, rates are highest in the northern plains and southwestern states.
- States like New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming have higher premature mortality rates for Hispanic residents.
With all of this information, it’s hard to not feel discouraged. Not only are these disparities costing the American people more in funds, they’re also costing people their health and very lives. But what can we do about it, and how do we make changes that can benefit us all?
What Can Be Done When It Comes to Disparities in Healthcare
It can seem pointless trying to make change as a single person. And yes, normal people shouldn’t be responsible for change that needs to be enacted via people in power. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t advocate for change. Here’s what we can do.
Increase Health Literacy
Health care organizations can help in increasing affected groups’ health literacy by expanding educational programs. They could also identify the highest-risk groups and tailor educational and support programs accordingly. As a single person, this could also mean advocating for loved ones that may experience healthcare disparities, like a loved one in the LGBTQ+ community, or one who is considered overweight/obese. These people often have a harder time advocating for themselves or asking questions that help them in healthcare settings, and having someone who can help can make a huge difference.
Confront Your Unconscious Bias
An “unconscious bias” occurs when people are unaware of their inclination or predisposition for or against something, and those attitudes are harmful and can influence their behavior without their knowledge. Unconscious bias in medical settings can result in poor treatment, incorrect diagnoses, or delays in diagnosis. For example, many LGBTQ+ people have had negative interactions with healthcare providers.
In one study, 46% of medical students expressed explicit bias and more than 80% expressed some implicit bias against LGBTQ+ people. These biases against this group, and other groups, cause barriers to screening, cancer treatment, and other health care services which can create unsafe health care environments.
Not only do healthcare professionals need to confront and change their bias to do their jobs properly, it’s also important for the average person to do so as well. No matter your personal beliefs, they should not affect someone’s healthcare. Everyone should be allowed to have proper healthcare.
Understanding your bias and confronting it can also help you work with people who may not fit what you feel should be the traditional mold. This can help us all work together to get adequate healthcare for all.
Don’t Be Afraid To Get A Second Opinion
There are many Americans who mistrust the medical care they receive, and for good reason. There are many documented cases of medical professionals crossing ethical and moral lines. And if that’s not enough, this whole post has shown that disparities still exist and are thriving. So if you don’t fully trust your doctors and medical team, you aren’t alone.
So what do you do if you, or a loved one, are in this situation? One of the best things you can do is get a second opinion. If you know in your heart that something is wrong, don’t be scared to ask for more help and guidance. You are not stuck with one doctor, especially if that doctor isn’t listening to you. And if they refuse to do as you ask? Go somewhere else. But be sure to look up doctors and hospitals that take your insurance if you have it, so you’re not hit with an out of network bill.
Donate and Be Active
Did you know that change starts with just one person? Many grassroots organizations started with someone having an idea about something that could be improved. And many changes in healthcare, law, and more have started from just one person wanting and advocating for change.
Yes, it’s still possible to make a difference, for your health and happiness and for others. But what does that entail, and how do you get started?
First, it’s okay if you’re not ready or wanting to be an activist. We all have the ability to choose how active we want to be in making change. But even something as simple as donating to organizations you believe in can make a huge difference, even if you don’t see it right away.
If you can only offer monetary donations, try:
- Help underinsured and uninsured people pay for their medications and treatment, helping keep them out of massive amounts of medical debt.
- Donate to aid in reforming the healthcare system as a whole.
- Start a Facebook Fundraiser, especially because Facebook doesn’t charge fees for donations to not-for-profits. Have the funds paid directly to the not-for-profit you designate!
- Participate in Giving Tuesday, which is celebrated every year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It’s a great opportunity to increase your donation as well since many not-for-profits have donors who match the donations made during this time.
Want to volunteer? That’s possible too:
- Participate in a run or walk if you’re able. Many charities already hold these types of events (including The Tutu Project!). You can pledge to run on behalf of the charity of your choice and garner support and funds from your friends and families. It gives them a great reason to cheer you on, and you get to raise funds for a great cause; it’s a win, win!
- Hold a fundraising event. This is a great way to get multiple people involved in donations and volunteer work. Not only is it fun, because you get to do it with friends, family, and loved ones, but it’s also for a great cause and can make a huge difference for many non-profits and their communities.
- Volunteer within your community or find a clinic/office to volunteer. While medical volunteers are always needed, there are also many non-medical volunteer positions available. Just a few non-medical options include being a greeter, working in patient registration, being an interpreter, or helping drive/take care of patients during and after appointments.
Disparities In Healthcare And Cancer Care: It Can Get Better
Some of these stats can make it hard to believe that things can get better. But there are so many things we can do as normal Americans, and we have so much more power to make change than we think!
It all starts with advocating for yourself and/or your loved one, and being sure to hold those in power accountable when they aren’t doing what they’ve promised. With time, and being aware of everything we can do, we can help change the course on the disparities in healthcare, so we can all be healthy and happy.
*The information provided on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on any information provided by this website is solely at your own risk. The owners, contributors, authors, and publishers of this website are not liable for any losses, injuries, or damages arising from the use of the information on this website.*