Cancer disparities by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status

This article highlights disparities in cancer incidence, mortality, and relation to race/ethnicity, and census data on poverty in the county or census tract of The incidence and survival data derive from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program; mortality data are from the National Health Statistics (NCHS); data on the prevalence of major cancer risk factors and screening are from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) conducted by NCHS. cancer sites combined, residents of poorer counties (those with greater than or equal to the population below the poverty line) have 13% higher death rates from cancer in men higher rates in women compared with more affluent counties (less than 10% below the line). Differences in cancer survival account for part of this disparity. Among both men women, five-year survival for all cancers combined is 10 percentage points lower persons who live in poorer than in more affluent census tracts. Even when census tract rate is accounted for, however, African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Pacific Islander men and African American and American Indian/Alaskan Native women lower five-year survival than non-Hispanic Whites. More detailed analyses of selected show large variations in cancer survival by race and ethnicity. Opportunities to reduce disparities exist in prevention (reductions in tobacco use, physical inactivity, and obesity), detection (mammography, colorectal screening, Pap tests), treatment, and palliative care.