Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in New Jersey, disproportionately affecting Black residents, according to a report released Tuesday by the American Lung Association.
New Jersey ranks ninth nationwide in the five-year survival rate for lung cancer, a figure that has risen by 21% due to earlier diagnoses and improved treatments. However, the annual State of Lung Cancer report highlighted significant racial disparities, with Black residents in New Jersey having a five-year survival rate of 22.6%, compared to 32.5% for White residents.
These statistics reveal a broader gap than the national averages, where survival rates are 28.5% for White patients and 25.5% for Black patients. “That’s one of the things we noticed in New Jersey, that [the gap] was wider,” noted Zach Jump, senior director of nationwide epidemiology and statistics research at the association. “Anytime you see something like this, it’s a lot of the classic culprits: historical inequalities, exposure to tobacco smoke, and air pollution.”
Despite its advanced health networks, New Jersey continues to grapple with racial disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. Black residents face higher rates of death from several conditions, including asthma, diabetes, and heart disease, compared to their Hispanic, Asian, and White counterparts.
