- http://hamptonroads.com/2012/12/portsmouth-cancer-death-rates-highest-state-why
- http://hamptonroads.com/2012/12/screenings-help-detect-cancer-making-sure-they-happen-isnt-simple
- http://hamptonroads.com/2012/12/working-erase-racial-gap-cancer-mortality-rates
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Dec. 9, Dec. 10 and Dec. 11, 2012
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
People in Portsmouth die of cancer at the highest rate in Virginia. This series explores factors that contribute to the high mortality rate, while following one woman’s journey as she discovers symptoms, receives a diagnosis of stage-4 breast cancer and starts treatment. The stories examine the impact of a shortage of primary care physicians, a dearth of mammogram opportunities for low-income women, and the biological, cultural and economic barriers that can keep blacks from pursuing preventive cancer care.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
An annual report by the Virginia Department of Health provided the foundation for the series. The author analyzed data from the state’s health statistics division, the cancer registry and the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. At my request, the state also provided in-depth mortality statistics on a more local level that included rates broken down by race and gender. I also used a variety of journal studies to research how different factors contribute to cancer mortality.
Explain types of human sources used.
Locally, I interviewed the heads of public health departments, oncologists, heads of hospitals’ cancer service divisions, advocates for cancer awareness, doctors and nurse practitioners at free clinics and community health centers, cancer patients and cancer survivors. I also spoke with state health officials and cancer researchers from various parts of the country.
Results:
I found that people in Portsmouth were neglecting their health because they couldn’t afford primary care — including cancer screenings — and because many feared the physical, emotional and financial impact of a cancer diagnosis. Delaying screenings and other preventive care meant some were diagnosed with the disease in an advanced stage, when it could have been caught earlier.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
N/A
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
The most helpful sources were low-income patients and the health providers who treat them. I found that some others — advocates, providers treating more higher-income people — would make generalizations that didn’t hold up. For example, some said low-income people didn’t know that they needed cancer screenings or didn’t want good health care, but I didn’t find that to be true. Be skeptical.