Racial cancer death gap closing – but black people are still 20% more likely to die

The racial gap in cancer deaths is finally narrowing, a new report finds. 

Nearly 30 years ago black patients had a 33 percent higher cancer death than white patients, but this has fallen to just 16 percent higher.

Black men, who once had a 47 higher cancer death rate than white men, now have a 19 percent higher rate.

Meanwhile, black women had a 19 percent greater cancer death rate three decades ago, which has fallen to a 13 percent greater rate.

Researchers from the American Cancer Society (ACS) say the main reason for the drop is that smoking rates fell more dramatically in black people in the past 40 years, and that’s paying off in fewer deaths now. 

However, the team adds that this gap persists because of differences in socioeconomic status and lack of insurance coverage. 

A new report has found that black patients had a 33 percent higher cancer death than white patients 30 years ago. Today, the rate is 16 percent higher (file image)

The tri-annual report, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program at the National Cancer Institute. 

In 2019, the ACS estimates that more than 202,000 new cancer cases will be diagnosed among black people in the US, and around 73,000 deaths will occur.  

While cancer deaths have dropped for all Americans, the rates have fallen faster among black people than white people.

This is in large part due to the declines seen in three of the four most common cancers: lung, prostate and colon cancers. 

Between 2006 and 2015, the cancer death rate fell 2.6 percent per year in black men compared to 1.6 percent per year in white men.

In women, the gap was smaller but still present, with the death rate falling 1.5 percent per year for black women compared to 1.3 percent per year for white women.

The report also found that lung cancer rates are 15 percent higher in black men than in white men – but 14 percent in black women than white women. 

Smoking rates have fallen more in black people – about 30 percent – than whites – about 25 percent – which has likely contributed to the narrowing gap. 

First author Dr Carol DeSantis, a cancer epidemiologist at the American Cancer Society, told DailyMail.com that the gap has been wide for so long because of socioeconomic differences.

‘In the US, race is tied with socioeconomic status,’ she said. ‘Advances in detection and treatment is slower to be disseminated to those in poor economic status, which in the US is more likely to be back people.’

US census data shows that, in 2017, more than twice as many black were living below the federal poverty level than whites, at 21 percent compared to nine percent. 

‘These advances are now being disseminated to black people, so they’re able to be spread more broadly.’ 

The closing gap in black-white cancer deaths was more noticeable in certain age groups, the first time this metric has been used, according to Dr DeSantis.

In  the period from 1990 to 1991 – among men ages 40 to 49 – the rate of deaths among black men was 102 percent higher than white men. 

However, in 2015 to 2016, the rate steeply dropped to just 17 percent higher.

Additionally, in black women ages 80 to 89, the death rate was eight percent higher than white women in 2002 to 2003. But, in 2015 to 2016, the rate was shockingly three percent lower. 

The authors say it’s important to remember that while the gap is closing, US black people still have the highest death rate and lowest survival rate of any race for almost every cancer.

‘What needs to be done is to improve access to the state-of-the-art treatment, screening and prevention,’ said Dr DeSantis.

‘Insurance is important. Those with insurance are more likely to be diagnosed with earlier stage cancers.’

A 2013 study by the New Jersey Department of Health found that uninsured patients and patients insured by Medicaid had a higher risk of death than those who were privately insured patients.

Federal data shows that, in 2017, 11 percent of black were uninsured – nearly double the six percent of uninsured whites. 

Dr DeSantis says that while the Affordable Care Act has helped reduce cancer disparities, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. 

‘I am encouraged by seeing the disparity narrowing but there is still more work to be done in narrowing that gap that has not been eliminated yet,’ she said.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk