COLORADO – March 2025 – It is a fact that most cancer patients in Colorado face all sorts of obstacles to access specialized care and treatment, whether it’s a long drive from a rural area to receive daily cancer treatments, or difficulty getting time off work for surgeries or recovery. But certain populations, primarily minorities and underserved communities, face greater and more numerous obstacles to connecting with the life-saving cancer prevention, screening, and care they need. For Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers oncologist Dr. Mabel Mardones, addressing issues of health disparities in cancer care is both personally and professionally critical.
Dr. Mardones, an oncologist and Latinx woman specializing in breast cancer, understands that breast cancer disproportionately impacts women of Latinx or Hispanic descent, who face higher mortality rates. She recognizes the disparities this population encounters, including limited access to health insurance, economic hardship, physician biases, and environmental factors—such as polluted air and water—that contribute to cancer. These challenges are often more pronounced in lower-income and minority communities than in affluent, predominantly white populations.
As a physician for a cancer program that consistently strives to address inequities, and as a respected voice in the medical community, Dr. Mardones is able to raise awareness and instigate change, a role she embraces completely – and skillfully – both as an educator to her patients and as a public speaker.
What Factors Contribute to Health Disparities in Cancer Care?
Dr. Mardones points out that the Latinx population has lower occurrence rates of breast cancer than the general population but higher mortality rates, a sobering statistic that very likely holds true for other minorities. The reasons for this health disparity are numerous and interwoven. Dr. Mardones lists issues like:
Additionally, Dr. Mardones said, there are cultural biases within the Latinx community that can work against cancer treatment. One of these is distrust of the medical establishment due to cultural differences, language and communication barriers, and a lack of understanding of how the healthcare system works. Before she can even begin treating an individual’s cancer, Dr. Mardones says she builds trust and takes the time to educate the patient, including their family members and significant others.
“My role is to be an educator – even as an oncologist. Everything is about education. I’m a facilitator and an educator. And then I want to empower them to make their own choices,” said Dr. Mardones. “It’s an approach that’s not only more rewarding from an interpersonal perspective, but it also creates a better attitude toward cancer treatment. When patients are empowered to make choices, they’ll be more committed to treatment.”
At RMCC, Dr. Mardones and the entire team of physicians and healthcare professionals are committed to working toward health equity by making high-quality cancer care available to patients close to their homes, removing the necessity to relocate or travel long distances. In turn, this allows doctors to enroll their patients in clinical trials across the country, focusing on research and providing robust therapy. Dr. Mardones says addressing these issues head-on makes her proud when it comes to RMCC’s approach to health equity and disparities.
“We want minority populations to know that we are equipped to provide specialized medical oncology care, and that they have options for their treatment. RMCC incorporates the concept of equal care for all and accessibility for all patients,” said Dr. Mardones. “I think it’s important for physicians – as part of our Hippocratic oath – to provide the same quality care to all patients.”
Language can be a barrier not only to communication but also to the quality and variety of treatments available. To address this, RMCC provides translation services for all materials and medical appointments in any language. Every member of the RMCC care team has access to technology that can translate in real-time during exams. This advancement in accessibility was driven, in part, by the pandemic when in-person interpreters were unavailable. However, while RMCC and the US Oncology Network strive to offer equitable care, addressing health disparities requires broader, systemic change beyond individual patient treatment.
“If we don’t address issues outside health care, we can’t improve health outcomes,” said Dr. Mardones, referring to social determinants of health, which include not only medical care but many other factors like education and behaviors. “We must face these issues and try to find collective solutions to change the system. No one should have to sell their home or not have a retirement fund to receive cancer care.”
Dr. Mardones recommends Share Cancer Support, which helps women in underserved communities during cancer treatment, and the Latino Cancer Institute, which conducts research and advocacy to reduce the burden cancer places on Latinx communities.
RMCC is part of The U.S. Oncology Network, a highly respected national organization collaborating to advance innovative care and deliver optimal outcomes. As Colorado’s leader in cancer treatment, we’ve been delivering world-class cancer care with compassion and expertise for more than 30 years, and we make our patients’ lives easier by offering coordinated care access in 19 locations throughout Colorado. So, if you find yourself facing new challenges in your health journey, we’ll be on your side, empowering Your Courage with Our Proven Experience.
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Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers (RMCC) is an independent, physician-led practice that delivers leading-edge technology and treatment options and conducts innovative research. For more than 30 years, RMCC has pioneered community-based care to enable more cancer patients to receive high-quality treatment while staying close to the support of family and friends.
Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers treats more adult cancer than any other healthcare organization in Colorado, providing 19 locations and a network of 54 physicians specializing in cancer care throughout the state. RMCC is collectively focused on treating cancer and blood disorders with advanced technology and innovative research no matter where you live, while taking a community-based approach of integrated subspecialty oncology care. This enables patients to access leading-edge treatment while living at home and receiving the critical support of family and friends.
Patients who are treated at RMCC can participate in some of the most promising national clinical trials for a broad range of cancers. RMCC has played a role in the development of more than 100 FDA-approved cancer-fighting drugs – about one-third of cancer therapies approved by the FDA to date. At any given time, more than 150 national clinical trials are open throughout The Network.
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