Inaugural AACR report shines light on disparities in cancer rates and deaths

The American Association for Cancer Research just released its first report on racial disparities in cancer. Even though the disparity in cancer deaths between Black and white individuals has been reduced from 33% in 1990 to 14% in 2016, the report states, Black Americans have had the highest death toll from cancer among all racial groups in the U.S. for the past 40 years. At the same time, people from non-white backgrounds have at least twice the rate of death from stomach cancer than white patients with the disease. The inequities exist beyond racial lines: Other marginalized groups, including bisexual women and those with low incomes, tend to have higher cancer rates. The report also outlines how disparities in underlying risk factors — such as HIV and hepatitis infections — contribute to inequities in cancer rates, as do lower rates of cancer screening and insurance in vulnerable populations.