Early Stage or Curable Cancer Diagnoses in Minorities: A Journey of Survivors

<p>Patients diagnosed with early-staged or curable forms of cancer experience physical, as well as, mental challenges associated with disease progression and treatment. Previous studies have demonstrated that minorities and underrepresented communities did not receive the same level of care in comparison to their non-minority counterparts. Previous studies have also demonstrated that health disparities among minorities affected their cancer journey. This study addressed: how medical disparities varied between minorities and non-minorities, the overall effects of the cancer diagnoses in minorities compared to non-minorities, whether these perspectives differed in male vs. female participants, and whether there were any possible communication barriers between cancer patients and their medical professionals. Participants also discussed the varied and unique experiences of being diagnosed with early-stage or curable cancers based on race/ethnicity, gender, age, and cancer diagnosis. Results indicated that minority and non-minority cancer patients had many similar health disparities and themes; however, minority participants had more health disparities and unique experiences. Male participants also received less support compared to their female counterparts. Lastly, there was a strong correlation between having an involved medical staff team and having a greater cancer experience. Likewise, having a less involved and communicative medical staff team caused patients to have a displeasing cancer journey.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Integrative Biology (MSIB)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2023

Author dc:creator

• Asberry, Lora

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Evelina Sterling
• Dr. Tyler Collette
• Dr. Nicholas Green

• Cancer
• Curable Cancer
• Early-Staged Cancer
• Health Disparities
• Minorities
• Biology
• Cancer Biology
• Integrative Biology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/integrbiol_etd/108

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu:integrbiol_etd-1108