Native Americans continue to experience some of the highest cancer death rates in the United States, a pattern driven by late diagnoses, lower screening rates, and long-standing inequities in access to care. A detailed analysis from City of Hope shows that while cancer incidence varies by region, Native American communities nationwide face disproportionate mortality from several preventable and treatable cancers.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society show that Native Americans have the highest overall cancer mortality in the country. Nationally, death rates for kidney, liver, stomach, and cervical cancers are double or triple those seen in non-Hispanic White populations. In the Southwest, where overall cancer rates are sometimes lower, stark disparities remain for specific diseases, including gallbladder, stomach, liver, kidney, colorectal, and cervical cancers.
Screening gaps play a central role. Studies cited in the report show that Native Americans are less likely to receive recommended cancer screenings, leading to more advanced-stage diagnoses. Five-year survival rates remain significantly lower for Native American patients than for White patients, even when cancers are detected early. Socioeconomic status and geography further compound these outcomes, particularly in rural and tribal communities.
Cervical cancer illustrates the consequences. American Indian and Alaska Native women are nearly twice as likely to develop cervical cancer and four times as likely to die from it compared with White women. Research suggests biological factors, including higher rates of high-risk HPV and vaginal dysbiosis, may contribute, alongside structural barriers to care. Shana Wingo, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix, said the findings show “the need for more quality, culturally competent health care for Native American women,” adding that consistent screening is essential.
The American Cancer Society notes that Native Americans are “vulnerable to cancer disparities due to long-standing inequalities in socioeconomic status, education, and access to care.” Without sustained investment in prevention, early detection, and high-quality treatment, the report warns, these racial health disparities will continue to cost lives.
See: “Examining the High Native American Cancer Rates” (May 22, 2025)
