New ACS Study Shows Cancer Mortality Rates Among Black People Declining, but Remain Higher Than Other Racial and Ethnic Groups

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Feb 20, 2025, 07:00 ET

American Cancer Society report also finds Black men continue to die from prostate cancer at twice the rate of White men

ATLANTA, Feb. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Cancer Society (ACS) today released Cancer Statistics for African American and Black People, 2025. According to the report, the cancer mortality rate declined from 1991 to 2022 by 49% and 33% in Black men and women, respectively, in the United States. However, African American and Black people continue to have a disproportionately elevated cancer burden compared to other population groups. According to the study, the risk of cancer death for Black individuals is two-fold that of White individuals for myeloma, prostate, uterine corpus (endometrial), and stomach cancers, and 40%-50% higher for colorectal, breast, cervical, and liver cancers. Similarly, survival is lower in Black people than in White people for almost every type and stage of cancer, with the largest gaps for melanoma, uterine corpus, and cervical cancers. These important findings are published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians and available on cancer.org.

Cancer Statistics for African American and Black People Report Graphic

Infographic with Cancer Statistics for African American and Black People

"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, 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."

For the study, ACS investigators compiled the most recent data on cancer incidence, mortality, survival, screening, and risk factors for Black people using population-based science from the National Cancer Institute and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black people represent the third largest racial and ethnic group in the country after White and Hispanic people, accounting for approximately 14% of the total population in 2022. This year, there will be an estimated 248,470 new cancer diagnoses and 73,240 cancer deaths among this population. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in Black men and women after 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."

Other highlights in the report include:

Black men experienced the most significant relative decline in cancer mortality from 1991 to 2022 (compared to Black women and White men and women) at nearly every age, including a 65%-67% drop among those 40-59 years of age.
The most commonly diagnosed cancers continue to be prostate (44% among males), breast (34% among females), lung (10%), and colorectal (8%), which will account for 58% of all new cancers diagnosed among Black people.
Black men have a 67% higher prostate cancer incidence rate compared to White men and are more than twice as likely to die from the disease.
Black women have a 38% higher likelihood of dying from breast cancer compared to White women despite a 5% lower likelihood of being diagnosed with the disease.
Uterine corpus (endometrial) cancer incidence continues to increase in Black women by 2% per year.

"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 ongoing cancer disparities in Black women, last year ACS launched the VOICES of Black Women study. The study is designed to help better understand the multi-level drivers of incidence, mortality, and resilience of cancer and other health conditions among Black women in the U.S., so we can collectively address them. It will be the largest cohort study of cancer risk and outcomes among Black women in the U.S. For more information and to participate, visit voices.cancer.org.

Other ACS researchers participating in the study include lead author Anatu Saka, Angela Giaquinto, Dr. Lauren McCullough, and Dr. Ahmedin Jemal.

Additional ACS Resources:

About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

SOURCE American Cancer Society