Understanding Ethnic Inequalities in Cancer Diagnosis in UK Primary Care: A Narrative Review

Ethnic inequalities in cancer incidence and outcomes are widespread, although the evidence available for people in the UK is more limited than in some other countries. This narrative review details the current evidence relating to ethnicity and differences in primary care cancer diagnosis in the UK and possible contributing factors. In general, cancer rates are higher for White individuals than for Asian or Black individuals in the UK, but for some cancer sites, the inverse is true. There are also differences in stage at diagnosis by ethnic group for some cancer sites. The routes through which cancer inequalities emerge are complex and difficult to attribute to a single patient characteristic. A variety of social, demographic, genetic and health service factors interact to influence outcomes. There is a wide research base demonstrating that Asian and Black individuals in the UK can experience a range of obstacles when interacting with health care services, including cancer investigations. Future research evidence and health service planning needs to include a diverse range of stakeholders in order to decrease cancer inequalities.