March 5, 2025 Story by: Editor
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has published its latest report, “Cancer Statistics for African American and Black People, 2025,” highlighting significant progress in cancer mortality reduction. According to the findings, the cancer death rate in the U.S. dropped by 49% for Black men and 33% for Black women between 1991 and 2022.
Despite these gains, Black individuals continue to face a disproportionately high cancer burden compared to other racial groups. The report indicates that Black individuals are twice as likely as White individuals to die from myeloma, prostate, uterine corpus (endometrial), and stomach cancers, while their risk of death from colorectal, breast, cervical, and liver cancers is 40%-50% higher. Additionally, survival rates for nearly all cancer types and stages remain lower among Black people, with the most significant gaps observed in melanoma, uterine corpus, and cervical cancers.
The full study is available in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians and on cancer.org.
“Overall declines in cancer mortality rates in Black people largely reflect behavioral changes, such as historical declines in cigarette smoking among Black teens, as well as advances in treatment and earlier detection for some cancers,” said Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director of surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and senior author of the report. “Yet, this population persistently experiences a much higher mortality burden than other racial and ethnic groups for many cancers. We must reverse course.”
The ACS compiled the most recent data on cancer incidence, mortality, survival, screening, and risk factors affecting Black populations using information from the National Cancer Institute and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Black people, the third-largest racial and ethnic group in the country after White and Hispanic populations, accounted for roughly 14% of the U.S. population in 2022. In 2025, an estimated 248,470 new cancer cases and 73,240 cancer-related deaths are expected among Black individuals. Cancer remains the second leading cause of death for Black men and women, following heart disease.
“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,” said Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, interim chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “This is a critical opportunity for the scientific, clinical, and policy-making community 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.”
Key findings from the report include:
- Black men saw the most significant decline in cancer mortality between 1991 and 2022 compared to Black women and White individuals, with a 65%-67% decrease in those aged 40-59.
- The most frequently diagnosed cancers among Black individuals remain prostate (44% in males), breast (34% in females), lung (10%), and colorectal (8%), accounting for 58% of all new cancer cases.
- Prostate cancer incidence among Black men is 67% higher than in White men, and Black men are more than twice as likely to die from the disease.
- Black women have a 38% higher risk of dying from breast cancer than White women, despite being 5% less likely to be diagnosed.
- Uterine corpus (endometrial) cancer continues to rise among Black women, increasing by 2% annually.
“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,” added Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society. “Given this latest data, it’s also more important than ever to understand how to reduce your chance of getting cancer. This means taking preventative health measures, like understanding your risk profile, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and keeping up on cancer screenings to catch the disease as early as possible.”
To address the ongoing disparities in cancer outcomes for Black women, the ACS launched the VOICES of Black Women study last year. This initiative seeks to better understand the factors contributing to cancer incidence, mortality, and resilience among Black women in the U.S. The VOICES study is expected to become the largest cohort study focused on cancer risk and outcomes among Black women in the country. For more details and participation information, visit voices.cancer.org.
“While Black people have disproportionately high rates for many cancers, the disparity between Black and White women for endometrial cancer is especially concerning,” said Anatu Saka, associate scientist, cancer surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the study. “The causes behind these disparities are complex and not well understood. Initiatives like the VOICES study can help tackle this widening disparity.”
Source: American Cancer Society
