Today, the American Cancer Society (ACS) released Cancer Statistics for African American and Black People, 2025. The report shows a decline in cancer mortality rate from 1991 to 2022 by 49% and 33% in African American or Black men and women, respectively, in the United States. However, African American and Black people continue to face a disproportionately elevated cancer burden compared to other populations. According to the study, the risk of cancer death for African American or Black individuals is two-fold that of White individuals for myeloma, prostate, uterine corpus (endometrial), and stomach cancers, and 40% to 50% higher for colorectal, breast, cervical, and liver cancers. Similarly, survival is lower in Black people than in White people for almost every type and stage of cancer, with the most significant gaps for melanoma, uterine corpus, and cervical cancers. These crucial findings are published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians and available on cancer.org. 

​​“Overall declines in cancer mortality rates in Black people largely reflect behavioral changes, such as historical declines in cigarette smoking among Black teens, as well as advances in treatment and earlier detection for some cancers,” said Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, surveillance research at ACS, and senior author of the report. “Yet, this population persistently experiences a much higher mortality burden than other racial and ethnic groups for many cancers. We must reverse course.”

This year, there will be an estimated 248,470 new cancer diagnoses and 73,240 cancer deaths among this population. Cancer is the second-highest cause of death in African American and Black men and women after heart disease. 
 
"This report highlights the disparities the Black community has faced for decades. While the decline in cancer mortality rates is encouraging, the stark inequities in incidence and survival for many cancers underscore the urgent need for targeted research and interventions,” said Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, interim chief executive officer of ACS and American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “This is a critical opportunity for the scientific, clinical, and policy-making community to come together to drive meaningful change. Together, we must inform strategies to close these gaps, improve early detection, and ensure equitable access to lifesaving treatments for the Black community.” 

Other highlights in the report include: 

• Black men experienced the most significant relative decline in cancer mortality from 1991 to 2022 (compared to Black women and White men and women) at nearly every age, including a 65% to 67% drop among those 40-59 years of age. 
• The most commonly diagnosed cancers continue to be prostate (44% among males), breast (34% among females), lung (10%), and colorectal (8%), which will account for 58% of all new cancers diagnosed among Black people. 
• Black men have a 67% higher prostate cancer incidence rate compared to White men and are more than twice as likely to die from the disease. 
• Black women have a 38% higher likelihood of dying from breast cancer compared to White women despite a 5% lower likelihood of being diagnosed with the disease. 
• Uterine corpus (endometrial) cancer incidence continues to increase in Black women by 2% per year. 

“Future research should not only explore the influence of systemic racism on health but also develop mechanisms to implement change, including increasing diversity in clinical trials,” added Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at ACS.

Other ACS researchers​ participating in the study include lead author Anatu Saka, Angela Giaquinto, Dr. Lauren McCullough, and Dr. Ahmedin Jemal.