Skip to main content
The British Journal of Cancer. Supplement logoLink to The British Journal of Cancer. Supplement
. 1996 Sep;29:S2–10.

Cancer and ethnic minorities--the Department of Health's perspective.

V Bahl 1
PMCID: PMC2149851  PMID: 8782792

Abstract

With more than 160,000 deaths annually cancer is the second commonest cause of death in the UK. The little evidence available shows that black and minority ethnic people are experiencing an increase in cancer-related mortality. The Government's Health of the Nation report produced in 1993 by the Department of Health identifies key areas, including cancer, where improvements in mortality and morbidity could be achieved, and an essential element relates to the needs of black and minority ethnic people. It is, for example, now well recognised that in terms of screening, treatment and palliation, cancer services are not always accessible and sensitive to the needs of this section of the population. Beginning with a demographic backdrop this paper reviews the data on the occurrence of cancer and on access to services by this section of the population. Relevant initiatives funded by the Department of Health are highlighted and a summary of the information sources to enable health care purchasers and service providers to assess the needs of their local population has also been given.

Full text

PDF
S2

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Barker R. M., Baker M. R. Incidence of cancer in Bradford Asians. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1990 Jun;44(2):125–129. doi: 10.1136/jech.44.2.125. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Doyle Y. A survey of the cervical screening service in a London district, including reasons for non-attendance, ethnic responses and views on the quality of the service. Soc Sci Med. 1991;32(8):953–957. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(91)90250-g. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Lancaster G., Elton P. Does the offer of cervical screening with breast screening encourage older women to have a cervical smear test? J Epidemiol Community Health. 1992 Oct;46(5):523–527. doi: 10.1136/jech.46.5.523. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. McAvoy B. R., Raza R. Can health education increase uptake of cervical smear testing among Asian women? BMJ. 1991 Apr 6;302(6780):833–836. doi: 10.1136/bmj.302.6780.833. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The British Journal of Cancer. Supplement are provided here courtesy of Cancer Research UK

RESOURCES