Cancer Disparities by Race/Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status Elizabeth Ward, PhD, Ahmedin Jemal, DVM, PhD, Vilma Cokkinides, PhD, MSPH, Gopal K. Singh, PhD, MS, MSc, Cheryll Cardinez, MSPH, Asma Ghafoor, MPH and Michael Thun, MD, MS Dr. Ward is Director, Surveillance Research, Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA. Dr. Jemal is Program Director, Cancer Occurrence, Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA. Dr. Cokkinides is Program Director, Surveillance of Risk Factors and Screening, Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA. Dr. Singh is Health Statistician, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD. Ms. Cardinez is Epidemiologist, Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA. Ms. Ghafoor is Epidemiologist, Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA. Dr. Thun is Vice President, Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA. This article highlights disparities in cancer incidence, mortality, and survival in relation to race/ethnicity, and census data on poverty in the county or census tract of residence. The incidence and survival data derive from the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program; mortality data are from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS); data on the prevalence of major cancer risk factors and cancer screening are from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) conducted by NCHS. For all cancer sites combined, residents of poorer counties (those with greater than or equal to 20% of the population below the poverty line) have 13% higher death rates from cancer in men and 3% higher rates in women compared with more affluent counties (less than 10% below the poverty line). Differences in cancer survival account for part of this disparity. Among both men and women, five-year survival for all cancers combined is 10 percentage points lower among persons who live in poorer than in more affluent census tracts. Even when census tract poverty rate is accounted for, however, African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Asian/Pacific Islander men and African American and American Indian/Alaskan Native women have lower five-year survival than non-Hispanic Whites. More detailed analyses of selected cancers show large variations in cancer survival by race and ethnicity. Opportunities to reduce cancer disparities exist in prevention (reductions in tobacco use, physical inactivity, and obesity), early detection (mammography, colorectal screening, Pap tests), treatment, and palliative care. CA Cancer J Clin 2004; 54:78-93 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.