Multicultural Health Institute

Cancer Resources

The death rate from cancer among African-American males is 1.4 times higher than that among white males; for African-American females, it is 1.2 times higher. African-American men have a rate of prostate cancer that is double that for white men.

• When accounting for all cancers combined, incidence rates for men are highest among blacks (598.5/100,000), followed by whites (533.1/100,000), Hispanics (400.5/100,000), Asian/Pacific Islanders (318.7/100,000), and American Indian/Alaska Natives (290.0/100,000).

• When accounting for all cancers combined, death rates for women are highest among blacks (175.2/100,000), followed by whites (150.6/100,000), American Indian/Alaska Natives (103.1/100,000), Hispanic (99.0/100,000), and Asian/Pacific Islander (90.9/100,000).

• Taking into account who's growing old in the United States and how many of us will be old by 2030, some projections show a 45% increase in cancer diagnosis in general and a 99% increase in cancer incidence among minorities (compared with a 31% increase for non-minorities).

• Although breast cancer is diagnosed 10% less frequently in African American women than White women, African American women are 36% more likely to die from the disease.

• American Indian Women are 1.6 times as likely to die from cervical cancer as compared to white women.

• Asian/Pacific Islander men and women have higher incidence and mortality rates for stomach and liver cancer.

• Hispanic women are twice as likely as non-Hispanic white women to be diagnosed with cervical cancer.

• Among minority groups, expected increases in cancer incidences are:

  • 64% for African-Americans

  • 76% for American Indian/Alaska natives

  • 132% for Asian/Pacific Islanders

  • 142% for Hispanics

Resources to Explore