Revisiting the 1973 report, "Alarming increase of the cancer mortality in the US Black population (1950-1967)"

Abstract

A 1973 review article by Henschke et al has been described as a "landmark," influencing the development of cancer surveillance by race/ethnicity in the United States. The 1973 article showed larger increases in total cancer mortality in Black than White males and larger increases for "non-Whites" than Whites for lung, prostate, pancreas, and various other cancers from 1950 to 1967. A review of data published after 1973 shows that the Black-White disparities in cancer mortality rates have generally increased. Research in the past 30 years supports Henschke et al's emphasis on racial differences in specific risk factors (including tobacco, alcohol, obesity, diet, and infectious diseases) and shows the importance of socioeconomic status in explaining Black-White differences in cancer risk and survival. Continued surveillance is needed to determine if declining cancer mortality rates in 1992-2001 for Blacks will continue.