Lots Of Hispanics Treated at Breast Cancer Center At California

After the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was implemented in 2014, more Hispanic women received breast cancer treatment and enrolled in clinical trials at a California cancer center.

"Our study shows that with the implementation of the ACA in California, our cancer center's Hispanic breast cancer patient population increased significantly," Chloe Lalonde said in a news release from the American Association for Cancer Research.

‘Improved social and economic conditions could improve access to care, reduce co-morbid conditions, and other factors that are associated with the prognosis of breast cancer and the disparities seen between various groups.’

"You're never too young to be informed about breast cancer, it's not a topic we should ever be fearful of talking about."

For the study, the researchers compared the number of Hispanic women with newly diagnosed breast cancer who received care at the Moores Cancer Center before and after the implementation of the ACA, also known as Obamacare.

The study team focused on women treated between January 2010 and December 2013, and compared them to women treated between January 2014 and December 2015.

The investigators also looked at how many Hispanic women volunteered to participate in breast cancer treatment clinical trials before and after the health-reform law took effect. The study authors noted that it's important for clinical trials to represent diverse patient populations.

Before the legislation was passed, Hispanic women represented 10 percent of the Moores Cancer Center breast cancer patient population. After the ACA, that number rose to 16 percent in 2015, the findings showed.

And, more Hispanic women volunteered to participate in clinical trials after Obamacare took effect, the study authors said.

Source: Medindia