Differences in Cancer Incidence, Mortality, and Survival between African Americans and Whites

Abstract

This report highlights selected evidence of different cancer patterns among African Americans and whites and considers potential risk factors associated with these cancers. During the years 1987 to 1991, African Americans experienced higher incidence and mortality rates than whites for multiple myeloma and for cancers of the oropharynx, colorectum, lung and bronchus, cervix, and prostate. African Americans had lower incidence and mortality for cancer of the urinary bladder. The incidence of breast cancer was higher among white women, but mortality was higher among African American women. Five-year relative survival for the period 1983 to 1990 was generally lower among African Americans than whites for cancers of the oropharynx, colorectum, cervix, prostate, and female breast but slightly higher for multiple myeloma. From 1973 to 1991, there were significant declines in cervical cancer incidence among women of both races, oropharyngeal cancer mortality among whites, and bladder cancer mortality for whites and African Americans. Risk factors for the more prominent cancers suggest that efforts aimed at changing lifestyles, achieving socioeconomic parity, and insuring environmental equity are likely to relieve African Americans of much of their disproportionate cancer burden. -Environ Health Perspect 103(Suppl 8): 275-281 (1995)

Equal care ensures equal survival for African‐American women with cervical carcinoma

“…Recent studies have demonstrated ethnic differences in survival rates of patients with lung, endometrial, and cervical carcinoma 1,6,8,[11][12][13][14][15][16] Most of these studies attribute this difference in survival rate to the greater percentage of AAs presenting at an advanced stage, having poor socioeconomic status with impediments to care. 1,6,8,[11][12][13][14] Other studies suggest an intrinsic genetic or social factor that may adversely affect cancer survival.…”

“…This study contains sufficient power to detect any differences in survival that have been reported previously. 6,[15][16][17] Of note, a difference in survival rate was identified when Caucasians were compared with all minorities. Most of the non-AA minority patients with advanced stage disease (60%) that came from the Army Medical Center in Hawaii account for this difference.…”

Global Leukocyte DNA Methylation is Similar in African American and Caucasian Women Under Conditions of Controlled Folate Intake

“…2 Epidemiological 3 and controlled feeding 4 studies have reported lower folate status in African American relative to Caucasian women. African American women also have a higher incidence and/or mortality rate from chronic diseases [5][6][7][8] and experience more adverse birth outcomes 9 than Caucasian women. This may be due to environmental (i.e., access to health care and nutrition) and biological factors (i.e., common genetic polymorphisms and epigenetic modifications).…”

Oropharyngeal Cancer, Race, and the Human Papillomavirus

“…The higher incidence of head and neck cancer among blacks has been attributed to a variety of factors, including differences in diet, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco use. Head and neck cancer occurs more frequently in men than in women (1,2).…”