Can We Close the Mortality Gap?

Having Cancer Is Dangerous Enough—But Being Black With Cancer Is Even Deadlier

We don’t know exactly why African-Americans suffer disproportionately from cancer, with higher incidence, morbidity, and mortality rates than other groups. But we do know that many factors—social, environmental, behavioral, and genetic—play a role. At an event sponsored by the California HealthCare Foundation at the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles, a panel of experts discussed clues in the existing research and presented ideas and strategies for African-American communities to prevent and treat cancer more effectively.

Mignonne Guy, a researcher at the Mayo Clinic Arizona, began the conversation by admitting that she didn’t have the …

Where’d You Go, Doc?

With Obamacare, More People Will Get Healthcare—If They Can Find It

The Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, is scheduled to take full effect in early 2014. The legislation is supposed to increase the number of people with health insurance, …

How About Ice Cream Without the Tonsillectomy?

We Keep Wanting More Care Without Knowing If It's Better Care

In 1981, I was 7, in love with Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl,” and so sick and sweaty and miserable that I woke myself from sleep in tears. When my mom …