Among racial and ethnic groups, African Americans had the highest cancer incidence and death rates during the period 2004-2008, according to a report from the American Cancer Society.
Cancer mortality for black men was 33% higher than for white men. Black women had a death rate that was 16% higher than that of white women, the ACS noted, even though the incidence of cancer for black women was 6% lower.
With regard to the most common types of cancer, other disparities emerge.
Hispanic women had the highest incidence of cervical cancer, but black women had the highest death rate. Asian Americans had the lowest rates of cancer overall, but Asian American men and women had the highest incidence and death rates for liver cancer. The American Indian population, both men and women, had a higher kidney cancer incidence and mortality than did any other group, according to the ACS.
Notes: Incidence data reported by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries. Mortality data are from the National Center for Health Statistics. Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.
Source: American Cancer Society