The American Cancer Society published its “Annual Report on the Status of Cancer Disparities in the United States 2025” on December 16.
Bottom Line: Substantial racial and ethnic health disparities across the entire cancer continuum persist in the United States. Differences in cancer mortality vary more by level of education than by race, suggesting that the social determinants of health may have more impact than biology on whether someone dies from cancer.
A free pdf of the Report is available at: https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.70045
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) published its “Key Data on Health and Health Care by Race and Ethnicity” on the same December 16, 2025.
Bottom Line: Across 64 measures of health, health care, and social and economic factors that drive health using the most recent data available, only Asian Americans fared the same or better compared to White people for most examined measures. Hispanic, Black, and American Indian/Alaska Native people fared worse across the majority of examined measures.
The free Report is available at: https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/key-data-on-health-and-health-care-by-race-and-ethnicity
Black mothers are more likely than other mothers to die within a year of giving birth
Hispanic and Black Americans face the highest dementia risk in the United States
Native Americans and Alaska Natives Have the Shortest Life Expectancy in the United States
David Williams
Focuses on impacts of daily discrimination, which contribute to poor health
Otis Brawley
Otis Brawley fought cancer inequities by exposing delayed diagnoses and poorer treatment among Black patients and underserved communities
Barney Morris
Barney Morris championed prostate-cancer awareness and care equity, focusing on preventing late diagnoses among Black men
J.C. Abdul-Mutakabbir
J.C. Abdul-Mutakabbir led vaccine equity efforts among Black and Hispanic communities, specifically combating COVID-19 vaccine inequity
Alyson Shirley
Alyson Shirley advanced Indigenous health by providing mobile HIV/STI testing, education, and culturally responsive interventions
Black Women Have the Highest Breast Cancer Mortality Rate Among U.S. Women
Black men have the highest prostate cancer death rate in the United States
Black Americans have the highest rate of heart attacks, heart failure and sudden cardiac arrest in the United States
Kemi Doll
Kemi Doll improved diagnosis, treatment, and advocacy for Black women with endometrial cancer facing delayed care
Barney Morris
Barney Morris championed prostate-cancer awareness and care equity, focusing on preventing late diagnoses among Black men
Mona Hanna-Attisha
Mona Hanna-Attisha exposed lead poisoning in Flint, championed public health initiatives for vulnerable children
Tiffany Green
Tiffany Green studied racial and immigrant-status inequities in maternal and infant health, especially affecting Black and immigrant mothers
Danielle Shpiner
Danielle Shpiner focused on reducing disparities in advanced-care planning and treatment access among Hispanic and female patients with Parkinson’s disease
Asian female non-smokers face elevated lung cancer risk
Suicide Rates rising fastest among Black Americans, Native Americans and Alaska Natives
Black stroke patients receive fewer advanced treatments and face more delays than White patients
Black Americans have the highest colorectal cancer death rate in the United States.
Elderly White senior Americans are the most likely to die from falls
Puerto Rican Americans suffer the highest rate of asthma in the United States
Historic Redlining Still Drives Poorer Health Outcomes and Higher Disease Risk in Affected Neighborhoods
Marcia Cruz-Correa
Marcia Cruz-Correa led efforts to reduce colorectal and hereditary cancer disparities among Hispanic and Puerto Rican populations
Crystal Cené
Crystal Cené focused on reducing cardiovascular and chronic-care disparities among under-served populations through social-determinants research
Joseph Mikhael
Joseph Mikhael advanced equity in blood-cancer care by targeting dramatic outcome and treatment disparities in multiple myeloma among Black and Latino patients
Kelvin Choi
Kelvin Choi addressed smoking-cessation disparities and tobacco use prevention among Asian American and other immigrant populations
Tesa Anewishki
Tesa Anewishki leads a West Side safety-net hospital where she combats diabetes, food insecurity and access issues for Black and Brown patients
American Indian/Alaska Native People Have the Highest Drug Overdose Death Rate in the U.S.
Black women have the highest cervical cancer death rate among U.S.
Black women experience the highest death rate from endometrial cancer in the U.S.
American Indian/Alaska Native people have the highest rate of type 2 diabetes in the U.S.
Black Americans have the highest hypertension rates in the United States
Black and American Indian/Alaska Native adults have the highest obesity rates in the United States.
Vanessa Sheppard
Vanessa Sheppard improved treatment access, survivorship support, and clinical-trial participation for Black women with breast cancer
John Carpten
John D. Carpten investigated cancer genomics to explain higher rate and mortality from prostate cancer among Black men and other underserved populations
Avonne Connor
Avonne Connor studied breast-cancer outcomes among African-American, Hispanic and underserved women and the factors that contribute to unequal outcomes
Paola Gonzalez
Paola Gonzalez championed bilingual, culturally responsive oncology care and improved health access for Latino communities facing resource barriers
Arline Geronimus
Arline Geronimus developed the “weathering” theory, showing chronic racism caused early health decline, especially in Black mothers and infants
People of Color Are at Greater Risk of being Killed in Traffic Accidents Than Other Groups
Black Americans Are at Greater Risk of Being Killed by Firearms than Other Groups
Native American/Alaskan Native Women are Twice as Likely to be Raped as Other Women
