For the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer – no matter how much money someone makes, the color of their skin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, or where they live.
A critical factor for eliminating disparities and ensuring health equity is the guarantee that all people have access to quality, affordable health care. Individuals with disabilities have increased risk factors such as using tobacco products, being less physically active, and more likely to experience social isolation, as well as a greater likelihood of having co-morbidities. Elevated cancer risk factors for people with disabilities are further compounded by low cancer screening rates for this population, which leaves people with disabilities at elevated cancer risk.
