Cancer Disparities Statistics
Cancer affects people of all racial and ethnic groups. Approximately 570,000 Americans died of the disease in 2005. However, there are profound disparities in cancer burden among different social classes and racial groups. As the overall burden of cancer is steadily falling, the decline varies for groups of different racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds1,2,3. African Americans have the highest incidence and death rates overall, as well as the highest rates for certain cancers. The incidence rate among African American males for developing any type of cancer is 689.2 per 100,000 compared to 556.5 among White males4. A similar trend has been noted among American Indians and Alaskan Natives, in which the incidence of leukemia and colorectal, stomach, pancreatic cancers continue to increase5. In addition to higher cancer incidence, minorities and lower socioeconomic groups also tend to have high rates of death due to cancer. Incidence rates of developing breast cancer are higher among white women than African American women (141.7 compared to 119.9), however, African Americans are more likely to die from it (mortality rate of 35.4 compared to 26.4)4. And Hispanic/Latina females have the highest incidence rates for cervical cancer (15.8 per 100,000 females). There are also disparities in individual risk behaviors that can lead to cancer. For example, overall smoking rates have declined among US adults though certain population groups still have higher rates than others. These include people with lower incomes, blue-collar workers, and those with lower levels of education. There are also striking differences in tobacco use by race and ethnicity. Alaskan Natives and American Indians have the highest smoking rates (36%), followed by Whites (24%) and African Americans (23%). Among most ethnic groups, smoking rates are higher among men than women. However, this is not true for Alaskan Natives and American Indians, where smoking prevalence among women has reached 42 percent.
Additionally, only one-third of all US adults engage in regular physical activity. Though levels are not favorable in any segment of the US population, they are particularly low in certain population groups. For example, physical activity is less prevalent among women than men and among African Americans and Hispanics than Whites. In addition, people with less education and lower incomes tend to be less active, as do people who live in rural areas.
Cancer affects people of all racial and ethnic groups. Approximately 570,000 Americans died of the disease in 2005. However, there are profound disparities in cancer burden among different social classes and racial groups. As the overall burden of cancer is steadily falling, the decline varies for groups of different racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds1,2,3. African Americans have the highest incidence and death rates overall, as well as the highest rates for certain cancers. The incidence rate among African American males for developing any type of cancer is 689.2 per 100,000 compared to 556.5 among White males4. A similar trend has been noted among American Indians and Alaskan Natives, in which the incidence of leukemia and colorectal, stomach, pancreatic cancers continue to increase5. In addition to higher cancer incidence, minorities and lower socioeconomic groups also tend to have high rates of death due to cancer. Incidence rates of developing breast cancer are higher among white women than African American women (141.7 compared to 119.9), however, African Americans are more likely to die from it (mortality rate of 35.4 compared to 26.4)4. And Hispanic/Latina females have the highest incidence rates for cervical cancer (15.8 per 100,000 females). There are also disparities in individual risk behaviors that can lead to cancer. For example, overall smoking rates have declined among US adults though certain population groups still have higher rates than others. These include people with lower incomes, blue-collar workers, and those with lower levels of education. There are also striking differences in tobacco use by race and ethnicity. Alaskan Natives and American Indians have the highest smoking rates (36%), followed by Whites (24%) and African Americans (23%). Among most ethnic groups, smoking rates are higher among men than women. However, this is not true for Alaskan Natives and American Indians, where smoking prevalence among women has reached 42 percent.
Additionally, only one-third of all US adults engage in regular physical activity. Though levels are not favorable in any segment of the US population, they are particularly low in certain population groups. For example, physical activity is less prevalent among women than men and among African Americans and Hispanics than Whites. In addition, people with less education and lower incomes tend to be less active, as do people who live in rural areas.
The National Cancer Institute has a complete overview of disparities in cancer incidence and mortality available at: http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/healthdisparities.
- Kawachi, I., & Kroenke, C. (in press). Socioeconomic disparities in cancer incidence and mortality. In D. Schottenfeld & J. F. J. Fraumeni (Eds.), Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention (3rd Edition ed.): Oxford University Press, 3rd Edition.
- Krieger, N. (2001). Historical roots of social epidemiology: socioeconomic gradients in health and contextual analysis. Int J Epidemiol, 30(4), 899-900.
- Lynch, J., & Kaplan, G. (2000). Socioeconomic position. In L. Berkman & I. Kawachi (E)ds., Social Epidemiology (pp. 13-35). New York: Oxford University Press.
- Ries, L. A. G., Eisner, M. P., Kosary, C. L., Hankey, B. F., Miller, B. A., Clegg, L., et al. (Eds.). (2004). SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975 - 2001. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute.
- Paltoo, D. N., & Chu, K. C. (2004). Patterns in cancer incidence among American Indians/Alaska natives, United States, 1992-1999. Public Health Reports, 119(4), 443-451.
