People who are incarcerated or recently released from prison have a higher risk of contracting and dying from cancer, compared to the rest of the population, according to a study.
- The number of people incarcerated has been constantly increasing since 2000.
- This number has more than doubled over the past forty years.
March 31, 2022, approximately 85,136 detainees, including 3.59% women, according to the latest data available. The French penitentiary park has an operational capacity of 60,619 places on March 1, 2022, which means that there are more detainees than places. Thus, the overall prison density reached 105.9%.
A recent study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, looked at health in prison. Specifically, the researchers studied the risk of inmates and people recently released from prison of developing and dying from cancer.
Mortality from cancer among prisoners accounts for 30% of deaths
“Cancer is the leading cause of death among incarcerated people, accounting for approximately 30% of all deaths, yet the relationship between incarceration and life expectancy with cancer has not been fully assessed.”, says Dr. Emily Wang, lead author of this study.
During their work, the scientists compared data from the tumor registry in Connecticut, a US state, with those from the correctional system of adults diagnosed with invasive cancer from 2005 to 2016 in the same state. We speak of invasive cancer when it has spread outside the tissues in which it originated.
With these data, the researchers established that the risk of cancer-related death at five years was significantly higher among those diagnosed while incarcerated and those recently released – within twelve months of release from prison – compared to the rest of the population. population.
Cancers of the gastrointestinal system, lung and prostate
“It’s a call to actioninsists Dr. Cary Gross, one of the authors of this study. Cancer prevention and treatment efforts should target people in prison and identify why incarceration is associated with these poor outcomes“.
Another lesson from the scientists: people diagnosed with invasive cancer during their incarceration and in the year following their release were generally younger, male and of Hispanic or non-Hispanic black origin. The most common cancers among inmates were those related to the gastrointestinal system, followed by lung and prostate cancers, as well as leukemia and lymphoma.
Scientists posit several reasons for this high rate of cancer among prisoners: limited access to quality cancer care, palliative care and the “little consideration given to the social determinisms of patient health, including social support and food”.
Facilitate access to care to prevent cancer
This study therefore proves a link between cancer mortality and incarceration but also the time of release, which remains a period considered to be very risky by the authors. They believe that efforts should be made to better monitor people recently released from prison by simplifying access to care, screening but also by helping them with other aspects such as “housing and food security, employment and other structural barriers faced by those reintegrating into society”, develops Dr. Oluwadamilola Oladeru, lead author. A better consideration of social determinisms for, ultimatelybetter prevention.