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Study Reveals Racial Disparities in Lung Cancer Treatment

3/6/2026

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Summary

Story summary

A JAMA Network Open study finds Black lung cancer patients receive less curative surgery or radiation than white patients.
The disparity has persisted since the early 1990s despite advances in care.
Researchers analyzed over 28,000 Medicare beneficiaries from 2005–2019, noting that treatment rose while the gap persisted and prompting calls for action.
From 2015 to 2017, 44% of Black patients received surgery versus 53% of white patients.

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Story summary

A JAMA Network Open study finds Black lung cancer patients receive less curative surgery or radiation than white patients.
The disparity has persisted since the early 1990s despite advances in care.
Researchers analyzed over 28,000 Medicare beneficiaries from 2005–2019, noting that treatment rose while the gap persisted and prompting calls for action.
From 2015 to 2017, 44% of Black patients received surgery versus 53% of white patients.