Racial Disparity in Esophageal Cancer Treatment and Survival

Black individuals with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have a lower survival rate compared to white individuals. This disparity could be attributed to presenting at a later stage of the disease and differences in treatment received, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Black individuals were less likely to receive these treatments even when diagnosed at the same stage as white individuals. Further investigation is required to determine the factors contributing to these treatment disparities, such as structural racism, social determinants of health, implicit bias, or patient preferences.