Cancer remains a stark mirror of racial and ethnic inequality in the United States, and the latest biennial report from the American Cancer Society shows those gaps are not closing fast enough. The authors describe “substantial disparities across the cancer continuum,” from risk factors and screening to survival and death, by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and place of residence.
Black and American Indian/Alaska Native communities bear the heaviest burden. During 2019–2023, Black and AIAN men and women had the highest cancer mortality rates overall and for the leading causes of cancer death. Black women experienced 10% higher overall cancer mortality than White women despite having 9% lower overall cancer incidence, a stark sign of inequities in diagnosis and treatment. Five‑year survival for major cancers was generally lowest in Black and AIAN populations, and they were less likely than White patients to be diagnosed at a localized, more curable stage.
Socioeconomic status cuts deep into these racial gaps. Differences in cancer mortality were “substantially larger by education than by race,” yet Black adults still had higher mortality than White adults with the same education level. The report traces these patterns to structural social determinants of health, including the legacy of redlining, persistent poverty, food and housing insecurity, and unequal health insurance coverage that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minoritized groups.
The authors conclude that mitigating cancer disparities demands “intersectoral stakeholder engagement, targeted funding,” and strong policies, including expanding health insurance coverage and protecting access to Medicaid.
See: “American Cancer Society’s Report on the Status of Cancer Disparities in the United States, 2025” (December 16, 2026)
