Reflection by Megan Warner -

The Problem: Studies on new cancer treatments often don't include enough Black people, even though Black people have a higher chance of dying from some cancers. This means the treatments might not work as well for Black people as they do for other races.

Why it Happens: The studies sometimes pick people randomly, but this doesn't always lead to a good mix of races.

How to Fix It: The studies could choose people randomly, but make sure they pick from separate groups of different races. This way, they'd be sure to include enough Black people.

Why This Matters: If the studies only test treatments on certain races, the treatments might not be the best for everyone. This could lead to worse health outcomes for Black people with cancer.

I chose this section because I was quite surprised by the statistics that were provided. Having my grandmother diagnosed with breast cancer this statement hits a soft spot, but more so that race plays a factor in your chances of survival. That is disheartening to even think about.

This section expressed the value of having quality, affordable, and non-biased healthcare available to all. Many people have created their own judgment based on the care they personally have received. Having equality within the healthcare system is extremely important, especially for groups where it's lacking just that.

This theme relates to me and my experiences of seeing how people other than white can be treated differently in the healthcare system when it comes down to the availability of appointments, wait times, and just even common courtesy among these establishments. I also am planning to enter into the health field (sonography) and once I do, I will aspire to advocate as well as create equality and fairness among my patients and fellow coworkers.