According to a study by Perez-Stable and colleagues, Latino patients were less likely to believe they could develop cancer or that if cancer was detected early, that it could be cured. This may originate from the belief in the Hispanic healing system, called curanderismo, which is based on the premise that disease is caused by evil forces beyond one's control and that disruption in peace of the soul causes sickness. 6 Good health is seen as God's reward for good behavior. If illness occurs it must be punishment for past sins. Many African-Americans also believe in a strong, positive correlation between health and faith in God.
Prayer is thought of as a powerful agent in healing.
Despite that belief, data has shown that African-Americans are generally more fatalistic than Caucasians about cancer treatment or a positive outcome of disease. 6 African-Americans tend to be less aware of the benefits of screening or treatments and tend to delay seeking healthcare providers advice when experiencing symptoms. Another element which contributes to a fatalistic ideology and as a barrier to screening is mistrust of the medical system by minorities. Mistrust is a result of previous discrimination, indifference and misunderstanding by healthcare professionals, especially of those who are financially disadvantaged. 5 One major offense in the history of healthcare, which many African-Americans justly consider as a reason not to trust, is the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment.