HJBR May/Jun 2024

44 MAY / JUN 2024 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE ONCOLOGY DIAL GUE COLUMN ONCOLOGY LOUISIANA is a magical place, renowned for its vibrant culture and resilient communities. Yet, our community members face a signifi- cant healthcare challenge characterized by persistent disparities in cancer screenings and access to comprehensive care. Despite remarkable advancements in medical tech- nology and treatment modalities, a substan- tial portion of the local population continues to encounter barriers in accessing timely can- cer screenings and preventive care. According to the Louisiana Tumor Regis- try, Louisiana has some of the highest cancer mortality rates in the country. Louisianians diagnosed with cancer are more likely to die from that disease than individuals diagnosed in other states. This is less correlated with the rate of diagnoses as it is the stage at which diagnosis occurs — beyond the point of im- pactful treatment. Barriers to access mean cancer diagnoses in Louisiana come too late In Louisiana, cancer tends to be diagnosed at later stages, when these diseases are harder to treat and treatment may be less effective. This, in part, is due to Louisiana’s healthcare landscape, which is marred by profound in- equities with certain demographic groups experiencing disproportionately high rates of cancer incidence and mortality. Accord- ing to the latest annual report from Ameri- ca’s Health Rankings, Louisiana is the least healthy state in the country, ranked 50 out of 50. 1 This clearly underscores the urgent need for intervention. One thing has been proven time and again — early detection saves lives. Detecting can- cers at their earliest stage is key to improving outcomes for a cancer diagnosis. Preventive care and regular screenings can greatly im- pact survival rates for cancer patients, in- cluding patients in Louisiana. However, many individuals throughout our region have sig- nificant barriers to accessing preventive care. Barriers include many socioeconomic challenges, such as living in poverty or high crime areas; lack of transportation or resources to meet scheduled appoint- ments; limited access to healthcare due to inadequate or no health insurance coverage; lack of knowledge or education on preven- tive care; and cultural and language hurdles. These challenges exacerbate disparities and result in adverse health outcomes for vulner- able populations. Early detection screenings should be accessible to everyone Cancer screenings serve as pivotal tools in he battle against cancer, offering a critical window for early detection and intervention. Colorectal, skin, oral, breast, and prostate cancer screenings, when conducted regu- larly and in accordance with recommended guidelines, enable healthcare providers to identify abnormalities at their earliest stages, when treatment is most effective. The following recommendations provide opportunities for early intervention, and in- dividuals should speak with their healthcare provider if they meet eligibility: • Colorectal Cancer: Screening should be- gin at age 45 for both men and women with multiple options for screenings, BRIDGING THE GAP: Addressing Disparities in Cancer Screenings & Healthcare Access in Louisiana