Study shows cancer mortality rates among Black people declining, but remain higher than other racial/ethnic groups

The American Most cancers Society (ACS) has launched Most cancers Statistics for African American and Black Folks, 2025. In accordance with the report, the most cancers mortality charge declined from 1991 to 2022 by 49% and 33% in Black women and men, respectively, in the USA.

Nevertheless, African American and Black folks proceed to have a disproportionately elevated most cancers burden in comparison with different inhabitants teams. In accordance with the examine, the chance of most cancers demise for Black people is two-fold that of White people for myeloma, prostate, uterine corpus (endometrial), and abdomen cancers, and 40%-50% larger for colorectal, breast, cervical, and liver cancers.

Equally, survival is decrease in Black folks than in White folks for nearly each sort and stage of most cancers, with the most important gaps for melanoma, uterine corpus, and cervical cancers. These necessary findings are printed in CA: A Most cancers Journal for Clinicians.

“Total declines in most cancers mortality charges in Black folks largely replicate behavioral adjustments, corresponding to historic declines in cigarette smoking amongst Black teenagers, in addition to advances in therapy and earlier detection for some cancers,” mentioned Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, surveillance analysis on the American Most cancers Society, and senior writer of the report.

“But, this inhabitants persistently experiences a a lot larger mortality burden than different racial and ethnic teams for a lot of cancers. We should reverse course.”

For the examine, ACS investigators compiled the newest knowledge on most cancers incidence, mortality, survival, screening, and threat elements for Black folks utilizing population-based science from the Nationwide Most cancers Institute and the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

Black folks characterize the third largest racial and ethnic group within the nation after White and Hispanic folks, accounting for about 14% of the entire inhabitants in 2022. This yr, there will likely be an estimated 248,470 new most cancers diagnoses and 73,240 most cancers deaths amongst this inhabitants. Most cancers is the second-leading reason behind demise in Black women and men after coronary heart illness.

“This report highlights the disparities the Black group has confronted for many years. Whereas the decline in most cancers mortality charges is encouraging, the stark inequities in incidence and survival for a lot of cancers underscore the pressing want for focused analysis and interventions,” mentioned Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, interim chief govt officer of the American Most cancers Society and the American Most cancers Society Most cancers Motion Community (ACS CAN).

“It is a vital alternative for the scientific, scientific, and policy-making group to come back collectively to drive significant change. Collectively we should inform methods to shut these gaps, enhance early detection, and guarantee equitable entry to life-saving remedies for the Black group.”

Different highlights within the report embrace:

Black males skilled probably the most important relative decline in most cancers mortality from 1991 to 2022 (in comparison with Black girls and White women and men) at almost all ages, together with a 65%-67% drop amongst these 40–59 years of age.
Probably the most generally recognized cancers proceed to be prostate (44% amongst males), breast (34% amongst females), lung (10%), and colorectal (8%), which is able to account for 58% of all new cancers recognized amongst Black folks.
Black males have a 67% larger prostate most cancers incidence charge in comparison with White males and are greater than twice as more likely to die from the illness.
Black girls have a 38% larger chance of dying from breast most cancers in comparison with White girls regardless of a 5% decrease chance of being recognized with the illness.
Uterine corpus (endometrial) most cancers incidence continues to extend in Black girls by 2% per yr.

“Future analysis shouldn’t solely discover the affect of systemic racism on well being, but in addition develop mechanisms to implement change, together with rising variety in scientific trials,” added Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer on the American Most cancers Society.

“Given this newest knowledge, it is also extra necessary than ever to know scale back your probability of getting most cancers. This implies taking preventative well being measures, like understanding your threat profile, sustaining a wholesome life-style, and maintaining on most cancers screenings to catch the illness as early as attainable.”

To deal with ongoing most cancers disparities in Black girls, final yr ACS launched the VOICES of Black Ladies examine. The examine is designed to assist higher perceive the multi-level drivers of incidence, mortality, and resilience of most cancers and different well being circumstances amongst Black girls within the U.S., so we are able to collectively handle them. It will likely be the most important cohort examine of most cancers threat and outcomes amongst Black girls within the U.S.