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Last Updated on November 13, 2025 by
Cancer is a big health problem worldwide, and in the U.S., it’s the second biggest killer. Racial disparities in cancer incidence and outcomes are well-documented. Some ethnic groups face higher risks and worse outcomes. Native Americans have the highest cancer death rates, and Black and Hispanic groups also face big disparities, raising the question of what percent of people get cancer across different populations
Recent data shows different cancer rates among ethnic groups. In 2018, White people had a rate of 437 per 100,000, Black people had 427, and Hispanic people had 339. Certain cancers also show big differences. For example, Black males get prostate cancer more often than White males, with rates of 164 per 100,000 versus 99 per 100,000.
A report by the Kaiser Family Foundation points out racial disparities in cancer outcomes and screening. This shows we need to focus on helping these groups more.
It’s important to know how cancer rates vary among different ethnic groups in the U.S. Cancer impacts different ethnic populations in different ways. This is due to a mix of genetic, environmental, and socio-economic factors. We will look at the current cancer statistics for different ethnic groups and what causes these disparities.
Recent data show that cancer rates have gone down for all racial and ethnic groups from 2013 to 2018. American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) and Black people saw the biggest drops. But, despite these drops, big gaps in cancer care remain among ethnic groups.
Some ethnic groups face higher risks for certain cancers. For example, Black Americans are more likely to get prostate, stomach, and uterine cancers than White Americans. On the other hand, Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander groups have lower rates for some cancers but struggle with getting care and screenings.
Many factors lead to the ethnic disparities in cancer rates. Socio-economic status is a big one, as lower-income groups often can’t get to preventive care, screenings, and timely treatments. Genetic predispositions also play a part, with some ethnic groups being more at risk for certain cancers because of their genes.
Also, lifestyle and environmental factors like diet, exercise, and exposure to harmful substances vary among ethnic groups. These factors can affect cancer risk. Cultural views on health care can also influence whether and how people seek medical help, affecting cancer outcomes.
Native American communities face a big problem with cancer. They have much higher cancer death rates than other groups. This is a serious issue that needs quick action.
American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) people have the highest death rates from some cancers. For example, liver and stomach cancers are more deadly for them. Their death rates from these cancers are much higher than the national average.
Cancer death rates also vary by state. Some states have much higher rates of cancer in Native American populations. This shows that some areas have a bigger cancer problem.
Many things contribute to the high cancer rates in Native American communities. These include poverty, lack of healthcare, cultural barriers, and environmental factors. For instance, not having access to cancer tests in rural areas makes things worse.
Cultural beliefs also play a role in how people deal with cancer. It’s important to create programs that respect these cultures. By understanding these challenges, we can start to lower the highest cancer rates in us.
To tackle the cancer problem in Native American communities, we need a wide range of solutions. This includes changing policies, engaging with communities, and improving healthcare access. By working together, we can make a difference and improve the health of Native American people.
Black Americans face higher cancer rates and worse outcomes. This calls for special efforts to help. They have more deaths from certain cancers than others.
Black men die from cancer 16% more often than White men. This is a big problem. It shows a big gap in how well they are treated for cancer.
Black Americans often get cancer later. This makes their death rates higher.
Key factors contributing to these disparities include:
For example, Black men get more aggressive prostate cancer. In California, 2022 saw more prostate cancer cases in Black men.
Black Americans die from prostate, stomach, and uterine cancers twice as often as White Americans. These cancers are deadly and show big gaps in care.
It’s complex to say if Black people get more skin cancer. But, it’s clear we need special cancer care for Black Americans.
Knowing which cancer has the best survival rate helps us improve. Early detection is key. So, we need to make screening easier to reach more people.
Cancer rates differ a lot among different ethnic groups. This shows we need specific healthcare plans for each group. White and Black people have the most new cancer cases. But, Asian and Pacific Islander folks have fewer cancer cases and deaths.
Cancer doesn’t affect everyone the same way. For example, Black Americans face higher rates of prostate and stomach cancers than Whites. On the other hand, Hispanics and Asians often have lower rates for common cancers.
Here’s what cancer registries in the U.S. found:
These differences highlight the need to understand and meet the health needs of each group.
Survival chances after cancer also vary by ethnicity. For instance, Black Americans often have lower survival rates than Whites for many cancers. This gap is due to several reasons, like less access to healthcare and later diagnosis.
“The disparity in cancer survival rates among different ethnic groups is a call to action for healthcare providers and policymakers to address the underlying causes of these inequities.”
To boost survival rates for everyone, we need better screening, early diagnosis, and fair treatment access.
It’s important to know how cancer rates differ among women of different ethnicities. This helps us focus our healthcare efforts. We look at cancer rates among women from different ethnic groups. We focus on breast cancer and the health of Hispanic and Native American women.
Breast cancer rates vary a lot among women of different ethnic backgrounds. Non-Hispanic White women have the highest rate of breast cancer. Non-Hispanic Black and Asian/Pacific Islander women also have high rates. These differences show we need to tailor our screening and prevention plans.
A study showed that breast cancer rates were 128.1 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic White women. Rates were 124.3 for non-Hispanic Black women and 93.4 for Hispanic women. This data highlights the need for research and interventions that consider ethnicity.
Hispanic and Native American women have unique cancer profiles. For Hispanic women, breast cancer is the most common cancer. For Native American women, cancer is often found later, leading to higher death rates.
By understanding these ethnic disparities in women’s cancer rates, we can work towards reducing incidence and mortality. States with the lowest cancer rates often have strong screening programs and healthcare. These could be models for other areas.
“The key to addressing ethnic disparities in cancer care lies in understanding the unique challenges faced by different ethnic groups and tailoring our healthcare responses.”
Looking at countries with the highest cancer rates can also give us insights. It shows us global health trends and how different risk factors affect cancer incidence.
It’s important to know how many people get cancer in different ethnic groups. This knowledge helps us tackle the highest cancer rates in the United States. Our study found that some groups face higher rates of cancer and death.
To fix these issues, we need better health insurance and more access to care. We also have to get rid of discrimination and bias. This way, we can ensure everyone gets fair cancer care, no matter their ethnicity.
We must understand the challenges of cancer care and how to meet the needs of different ethnic groups. By working together, we can lessen the impact of cancer. And we can improve health for everyone.
