What is Cancer?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can take over other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. Cancer is not just one disease, but many diseases.
A person can lower their risk of getting many common kinds of cancer by making healthy choices, keeping a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol intake, and protecting their skin. Screening tests can find some cancers early when treatment works best. Vaccines (shots) can help prevent or reduce your cancer risk (example: HPV, hepatitis).
How Does Cancer Affect African American Populations?
Black/African Americans have the highest mortality rate of any racial and ethnic group for all cancers combined and for most major cancers. Death rates for all major causes of death are higher for Black/African Americans than for non-Hispanic whites, contributing in part to a lower life expectancy for both Black/African American men and women.
- From 2015-2019, African American men were 1.2 times and 1.7 times, respectively, more likely to have new cases of colon and prostate cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
- Black/African American men are 1.8 times as likely to have stomach cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic white men and 2.5 times more likely to die from stomach cancer.
- Black/African American men have lower 5-year cancer survival rates for most cancer sites, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
- Black/African American men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic white men.
- From 2015-2019, Black/African American women were just as likely to have been diagnosed with breast cancer; however, they were almost 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic white women.
- Black/African American women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with stomach cancer, and they are 2.3 times more likely to die from stomach cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic white women.
Diagnosis
Percentages of cancer among adults aged 18 and over, 2021
| Cancer | Non-Hispanic Black | Non-Hispanic White | Non-Hispanic Black/Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| All Sites | 5.5 | 13.0 | 0.4 |
| Breast (women) | 1.4 | 2.1 | 0.7 |
| Cervical (women) | 0.2 | 1.3 | 0.2 |
| Prostate (men) | 3.0 | 2.9 | 1.0 |
Source: CDC 2022. National Health Interview Survey. Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults – 2021. https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NHISDataQueryTool/SHS_adult/index.html [Accessed 11/30/2022]
Top Cancer Sites for African Americans (2015-2019)
Cancer Incidence Rates per 100,000 – Men
| Cancer | Non-Hispanic Black Men | Non-Hispanic White Men | Non-Hispanic Black/Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| All Sites | 535.1 | 514.8 | 1.0 |
| Colon & Rectum | 52.4 | 43.5 | 1.2 |
| Esophagus | 5.7 | 8.4 | 0.7 |
| Kidney | 25.6 | 23.0 | 1.1 |
| Liver & IBD | 18.1 | 11.3 | 1.6 |
| Lung | 71.6 | 64.0 | 1.1 |
| Myeloma | 17.0 | 8.1 | 2.1 |
| Oral Cavity & Pharynx | 13.2 | 20.3 | 0.7 |
| Pancreas | 17.7 | 15.7 | 1.1 |
| Prostate | 183.4 | 110.0 | 1.7 |
| Stomach | 13.4 | 7.6 | 1.8 |
*IBD = Intrahepatic Bile Duct
Source: NCI 2022. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, 2015-2019. SEER*Explorer https://seer.cancer.gov/explorer/ [Accessed 11/30/2022]
Top Cancer Sites for African Americans (2015-2019)
Cancer Incidence Rates per 100,000 – Women
| Cancer | Non-Hispanic Black Women | Non-Hispanic White Women | Non-Hispanic Black/Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| All Sites | 408.7 | 450.8 | 0.9 |
| Breast | 129.6 | 137.6 | 0.9 |
| Cervical | 9.0 | 7.1 | 1.3 |
| Colon & Rectum | 38.6 | 33.3 | 1.2 |
| Kidney | 12.9 | 11.1 | 1.2 |
| Liver & IBD | 5.5 | 4.1 | 1.3 |
| Lung | 45.6 | 54.3 | 0.8 |
| Myeloma | 12.9 | 5.0 | 2.6 |
| Pancreas | 14.9 | 11.7 | 1.3 |
| Stomach | 7.8 | 3.7 | 2.1 |
| Uterus | 29.3 | 28.0 | 1.0 |
*IBD = Intrahepatic Bile Duct
Source: NCI 2022. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, 2015-2019. SEER*Explorer https://seer.cancer.gov/explorer/ [Accessed 11/30/2022].
5 Year Survival Rate
Percentage of Patients - Men (2012-2018)
| Cancer | Non-Hispanic Black Men | Non-Hispanic White Men | Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| All Sites | 65.3 | 67.2 | 1.0 |
| Colon & Rectum | 58.3 | 65.3 | 0.9 |
| Kidney | 75.5 | 77.3 | 1.0 |
| Liver & IBD | 17.0 | 19.8 | 0.9 |
| Lung | 17.1 | 19.3 | 0.9 |
| Pancreas | 9.9 | 11.5 | 0.9 |
| Prostate | 96.6 | 97.1 | 1.0 |
| Stomach | 27.6 | 29.2 | 0.9 |
Source: NCI 2022. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, 5-Year Relative Survival Rates, 2012-2018, SEER*Explorer https://seer.cancer.gov/explorer/ [Accessed 11/30/2022]
Percentage of Patients – Women (2012-2018)
| Cancer | Non-Hispanic Black Women | Non-Hispanic White Women | Non-Hispanic Black/ Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| All Sites | 62.3 | 70.2 | 0.9 |
| Breast | 82.6 | 92.0 | 0.9 |
| Cervical | 55.8 | 67.3 | 0.8 |
| Colon & Rectum | 62.0 | 65.7 | 0.9 |
| Liver & IBD | 23.5 | 19.3 | 1.2 |
| Lung | 24.6 | 26.7 | 0.9 |
| Pancreas | 11.6 | 11.0 | 1.1 |
| Stomach | 41.9 | 40.9 | 1.0 |
| Uterus | 64.1 | 84.1 | 0.8 |
Source: NCI 2022. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, 5-Year Relative Survival Rates, 2012-2018, SEER*Explorer]. https://seer.cancer.gov/explorer/ [Accessed 11/30/2022]
Death Rate
Cancer Death Rates per 100,000 – Men (2016-2020)
| Cancer | Non-Hispanic Black Men | Non-Hispanic White Men | Black/Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| All Sites | 216.0 | 182.5 | 1.2 |
| Colon & Rectum | 22.3 | 15.5 | 1.4 |
| Liver & IBD | 12.9 | 8.4 | 1.5 |
| Lung | 51.0 | 44.7 | 1.1 |
| Pancreas | 15.3 | 13.1 | 1.2 |
| Prostate | 37.5 | 17.8 | 2.1 |
| Stomach | 7.2 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Myeloma | 7.3 | 3.7 | 2.0 |
Source: NCI 2022. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, U.S. 5-Year Age-Adjusted Mortality Rates, 2016-2020, SEER*Explorer. https://seer.cancer.gov/explorer/ [Accessed 11/30/2022]
Cancer Death Rates per 100,000 – Women (2016-2020)
| Cancer | Non-Hispanic Black Women | Non-Hispanic White Women | Black/Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| All Sites | 149.2 | 133.0 | 1.1 |
| Breast | 27.6 | 19.7 | 1.4 |
| Cervical | 3.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 |
| Colon & Rectum | 14.3 | 11.1 | 1.3 |
| Liver & IBD | 4.8 | 3.6 | 1.3 |
| Myeloma | 5.0 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| Pancreas | 12.3 | 9.6 | 1.3 |
| Stomach | 3.5 | 1.5 | 2.3 |
| Uterus | 9.1 | 4.6 | 2.0 |
Source: NCI 2022. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, U.S. 5-Year Age-Adjusted Mortality Rates, 2016-2020, SEER*Explorer. https://seer.cancer.gov/explorer/ [Accessed 11/30/2022].
Breast Cancer Screening
Percentage of women age 40 and over who had a mammogram within the past 2 years, 2018 (crude)
| Non-Hispanic Black Women | Non-Hispanic White Women | Non-Hispanic Black/Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 68.6 | 68.0 | 1.0 |
Source: CDC 2022. Health United States, 2019. Table 33.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus19-508.pdf [PDF 3.02MB]
Cervical Cancer Screening
Percentage of women age 18 and over who had a Pap smear within the past 3 years, 2018 (crude)
| Non-Hispanic Black Women | Non-Hispanic White Women | Non-Hispanic Black/Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 75.1 | 63.7 | 1.2 |
Source: CDC 2022. Health United States, 2019. Table 34.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus19-508.pdf [PDF 3.02MB]
Colon Cancer Screening
Adults aged 50-75 who had any colorectal test or procedure, 2018
| Non-Hispanic Black Women | Non-Hispanic White Women | Non-Hispanic Black/Non-Hispanic White Ratio |
| 59.2 | 64.0 | 0.9 |
Source: CDC 2022. Health United States, 2019. Table 35.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus19-508.pdf [PDF 3.02MB]
Last Edited: 09/21/2023