Statement of Solidarity against Racism
Message from the Director
Dear UF Health Cancer Center Colleagues and Friends,
The UF Health Cancer Center condemns discrimination and intolerance and stands in solidarity with the Black Community. We acknowledge and share the anger, frustration and sorrow felt by so many.
We are united not only in working to combat racism, but to eliminate health disparities that contribute to the burden of cancer falling disproportionately on communities of color — particularly Black communities. Black lives matter.
While cancer outcomes have been improving overall, the improvement of these outcomes for underrepresented minority groups has fallen behind. Statistically, members of minority groups are more likely to be medically underserved with limited access to quality health care, serving as a large factor in the gap between cancer outcomes.
Black Americans, when compared to their white counterparts, face:
- A higher death rate for many cancer types
- A higher death rate for breast cancer
- Twice the chance of dying from prostate cancer
- A higher incidence of colorectal cancer
- Twice the chance of being diagnosed with and dying from multiple myeloma
The University of Florida Health Cancer Center strives to close the gap in cancer outcomes, diversify its clinical and research workforce and create more widely available opportunities for minority groups.
During this day of research and reflection, we recommend visiting the following sources to learn more about cancer health disparities in the Black community:
• Gap in Cancer Death Rates Between Blacks and Whites Narrows
• Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans
• Cancer Health Disparities in the United States: Facts & Figures
• National Cancer Institute — Cancer Disparities
• National Cancer Institute — Examples of Cancer Health Disparities
Sincerely,