Journal: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology
This commentary discusses structural drivers of racial and ethnic inequities in head and neck cancer care, using oral cavity cancer as an example.
Key points:
- A population-based analysis by Tortolero et al. shows that non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic patients with oral cavity cancer have substantially higher odds of being diagnosed at a late stage.
- Living in more socially vulnerable neighborhoods further worsens these disparities, suggesting a strong role for neighborhood-level determinants.
- Delayed diagnosis is linked to structural factors rather than individual behavior, including socioeconomic instability, transportation barriers, limited health literacy, and poor access to timely evaluation.
- Evidence from head and neck cancers and other malignancies (e.g., laryngeal, prostate) suggests that racial gaps in outcomes often shrink when access to high-quality, timely care is equalized.
- Emerging qualitative and health services research is beginning to map concrete barriers and potential system-level solutions.
- Improving equity in head and neck oncology will require not just better tumor-directed therapies, but also policies and care models that expand access, improve coordination, and ensure continuity of care across the cancer continuum.