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Review
. 2015 Apr 15:3:51.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2015.00051. eCollection 2015.

Health disparities and cancer: racial disparities in cancer mortality in the United States, 2000-2010

Eileen B O'Keefe  1 , Jeremy P Meltzer  1 , Traci N Bethea  2
Affiliations
Review

Health disparities and cancer: racial disparities in cancer mortality in the United States, 2000-2010

Eileen B O'Keefe et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Declining cancer incidence and mortality rates in the United States (U.S.) have continued through the first decade of the twenty-first century. Reductions in tobacco use, greater uptake of prevention measures, adoption of early detection methods, and improved treatments have resulted in improved outcomes for both men and women. However, Black Americans continue to have the higher cancer mortality rates and shorter survival times. This review discusses and compares the cancer mortality rates and mortality trends for Blacks and Whites. The complex relationship between socioeconomic status and race and its contribution to racial cancer disparities is discussed. Based on current trends and the potential and limitations of the patient protection and affordable care act with its mandate to reduce health care inequities, future trends, and challenges in cancer mortality disparities in the U.S. are explored.

Keywords: affordable care act; cancer mortality; disparities; race/ethnicity; socioeconomic status.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) All-site cancer mortality among men. United States 2000–2010 and disparity ratio trend. (B) All-site cancer mortality among women, United States 2000–2010 and disparity ratio trend.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Lung cancer mortality among men, United States 2000–2010 and disparity ratio trend. (B) Lung cancer mortality among women, United States 2000–2010 and disparity ratio trend.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Breast cancer mortality among women, United States 2000–2010 and disparity ratio trend.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Prostate cancer mortality among men, United States 2000–2010 and disparity ratio trend.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(A) Colorectal cancer mortality among men, United States 2000–2010 and disparity ratio trend. (B) Colorectal cancer mortality among women, United States 2000–2010 and disparity ratio trend.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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