Cancer Disparities

For too long, we haven’t appropriately addressed the ways in which race impacts cancer and we haven't taken enough action with the data that we have on health disparities. We want to change that but first, we need to understand what health disparities are in the cancer space and why they exist.

Across all types of cancer, race matters.

 

Here are some examples:

Black men have the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates compared to any other racial or ethnic group.

White women have the highest cancer incidence rates compared to any other racial or ethnic group.  Conversely, Black women die from cancer at higher rates than white women.

Asian and Pacific Islanders are the least likely racial or ethnic group to be diagnosed with and also to die from cancer.

Latinx people are the second least likely to be diagnosed with cancer, but cancer is a leading cause of death among Latinx people.

 

 

 

MONEY MATTERS

Many factors impacting your risk of cancer and chances of survival (i.e. smoking, diet, insurance status) are influenced by your wealth.

People who are wealthier have:

  • Lower rates of lung, stomach, liver, cervical, esophageal, and oropharyngeal cancers
  • Higher rates of breast cancer and melanoma

In 1950, poor people had a 27% lower cancer mortality, but by 2014, they had a 22% higher cancer mortality rate compared to wealthy people.