Cancer among blacks in Newark, New Jersey, 1970-1976: a national and international comparison

Abstract

Newark black men had age-adjusted cancer rates comparable to those of Washington, D. C., but lower than the other three American city blacks. Rates for Newark black women were generally similar to other American black women. American blacks, like those of Newark, had cancer rates higher than the African blacks in three out of four countries studied. Only blacks of Rhodesia had cancer experience like that of American blacks. Except for cancer of the cervix, the African blacks had generally lower rates compared to the American blacks for the ten sites investigated. However, high rates did occur for certain sites, e.g., esophagus and bladder cancers in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. Newark blacks also had higher rates for certain sites (prostate, lung, breast and cervix) compared to Washington, D. C., and certain other U. S. cities. Thus, the total risk of malignancies to develop among Newark blacks was no greater than that expected, based upon the four U. S. cities' experience.