Racial and ethnic survival disparities in patients with haematological malignancies in the USA: time to stop ignoring the numbers.

Most studies of racial and ethnic survival disparities in patients with cancer diagnosed and treated in the USA have pertained to patients with solid tumours. However, increasing research on health inequities shows that these differences also extend to patients with haematological malignancies. In particular, Black and Hispanic patients with cancer have had markedly worse survival outcomes for several decades, although the need to critically evaluate and address these disparities has, for several compelling reasons, gained a greater sense of urgency. To effectively implement strategies to counteract barriers that underlie survival disparities and systemic racism, understanding the current state of survival outcomes for patients with haematological cancers who are racially or ethnically minoritised is important. In this Viewpoint, we review the specifics of outcome differences across haematological malignancies and investigate the contributions of race-associated differences in administration of treatment and genetic differences in underlying disease biology. We also provide our perspective on key actions that we feel are crucial for the haematology community to pursue to abrogate systemic racism and ensure fair and equitable care for all.