March 2, 2025 Story by: Editor
Despite a significant decline in cancer mortality rates among Black patients in the United States over the past three decades, this population continues to bear a disproportionately high cancer burden compared to other racial and ethnic groups. These findings were detailed in a recent study by Saka et al, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
Background
Black patients represent the third-largest racial and ethnic group in the U.S., following White and Hispanic populations, making up about 14% of the total population in 2022. Projections for 2025 estimate that Black patients may face 248,470 new cancer diagnoses and 73,240 cancer-related deaths. Cancer remains the second-leading cause of death in this population, following cardiovascular disease.
Study Insights
Researchers analyzed population-based data from the National Cancer Institute and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to examine trends in cancer incidence, mortality, survival rates, screening, and risk factors among Black patients.
The study revealed that from 1991 to 2022, cancer mortality declined by 49% in Black male patients and by 33% in Black female patients. However, Black individuals faced twice the mortality risk from multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, endometrial cancer, and gastric cancer. Additionally, they had a 40% to 50% higher mortality risk from colorectal cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and hepatic cancer. Survival rates for nearly all types and stages of cancer were lower among Black patients compared to White patients, with the most significant disparities observed in melanoma, endometrial cancer, and cervical cancer.
“Overall declines in cancer mortality rates in Black [patients] largely reflect behavioral changes, such as historical declines in cigarette smoking among Black [adolescents], as well as advances in treatment and earlier detection for some cancers,” said Rebecca Siegel, MPH, Senior Scientific Director of Surveillance Research at the American Cancer Society (ACS). “Yet, this population persistently experiences a much higher mortality burden than other racial and ethnic groups for many cancers. We must reverse course,” she emphasized.
Further findings showed that Black male patients experienced the most substantial relative decline in cancer mortality across almost all age groups from 1991 to 2022, with a notable 65% to 67% drop among those aged 40 to 59. The most commonly diagnosed cancers in this population were prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer—accounting for 44% of cases among male patients, 34% among female patients, 10% for lung cancer, and 8% for colorectal cancer. These cancers are expected to make up 58% of all new diagnoses among Black patients.
Black male patients were found to have a 67% higher incidence of prostate cancer compared to White males and were more than twice as likely to die from the disease. Black female patients faced a 38% greater likelihood of dying from breast cancer than their White counterparts, despite having a 5% lower risk of being diagnosed with it. Additionally, the incidence of endometrial cancer in Black women increased by 2% annually.
Addressing Disparities
“This report highlights the disparities the Black community has faced for decades. While the decline in cancer mortality rates is encouraging, the stark inequities in incidence and survival for many cancers underscore the urgent need for targeted research and interventions,” stated Wayne A.I. Frederick, MD, MBA, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the ACS Cancer Action Network. “This is a critical opportunity for the scientific, clinical, and policy-making communities to come together to drive meaningful change. Together, we must inform strategies to close these gaps, improve early detection, and ensure equitable access to life-saving treatments for the Black community,” he added.
William Dahut, MD, Chief Scientific Officer of the ACS, further emphasized the importance of research into systemic racism’s influence on health outcomes. “Future research should not only explore the influence of systemic racism on health but also develop mechanisms to implement change, including increasing diversity in clinical trials,” he noted. “Given this latest data, it’s also more important than ever to understand how to reduce [a patient’s] chance of getting cancer. This means taking preventative health measures, like understanding [their] risk profile, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and keeping up on cancer screenings to catch the disease as early as possible,” he advised.
To tackle persistent disparities in cancer outcomes among Black women, the ACS launched the VOICES of Black Women study in 2024. This initiative aims to explore the various factors driving cancer incidence, mortality, and resilience, as well as other health conditions, to create more effective intervention strategies.
“While Black [patients] have disproportionately high rates for many cancers, the disparity between Black and White [female patients] for endometrial cancer is especially concerning,” pointed out lead study author Anatu Saka, MPH, Associate Scientist of Cancer Surveillance Research at the ACS. “The causes behind these disparities are complex and not well understood. Initiatives like the VOICES study can help tackle this widening disparity,” she concluded.
Source: The ASCO Post
