Trends in 5-year cancer survival disparities by race and ethnicity in the US between 2002–2006 and 2015–2019

Sep 21, 2026

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Racial and ethnic disparities in cancer survival persist across the United States despite overall improvements. This analysis examines trends in 5-year relative survival from 2002–2006 to 2015–2019 for major cancer types, highlighting differences among racial and ethnic groups to support equitable healthcare strategies. SEER Program data (2000–2020) were used to calculate age-standardized relative survival for White, Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian/Pacific Islander, and for Hispanic and Non-Hispanic populations. Period analysis was applied for recent estimates, excluding cases identified only through autopsy or death certificates. Significant improvements occurred for most cancers, yet notable disparities remained. Results included distinct patterns by site, including breast, colorectal, prostate, lung, pancreatic cancers, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute leukemia, and multiple myeloma.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Trends in cancer survival disparities

Study design and data source

Disparities by cancer site and time period

Implications for equitable healthcare strategies

[www. nature.com/scientificreports](www. nature.com/scientificreports) OPEN Trends in 5-year cancer survival disparities by race and ethnicity in the US between 2002–2006 and 2015–2019 Chongfa Chen1,2,3,5, Lingdi Yin2,3,5, Chunhui Lu1,2,3,5, Guangfu Wang2,3, Zhenyu Li1,2,3, Feihu Sun1,2,3, Huijuan Wang1,2,3, Chenchen Li1,2,3, Shangnan Dai2,3, Nan Lv2,3, Jishu Wei2,3, Zipeng Lu2,3, Feng Guo2,3, MinTu2,3, Bin Xiao2,3, Chunhua Xi2,3, Kai Zhang2,3, Qiang Li2,3, Junli Wu2,3, Wentao Gao2,3, Xu Feng2,3, Kuirong Jiang2,3,6􀀍 & Yi Miao1,2,3,4,6􀀍 Racial and ethnic disparities persist in cancer survival rates across the United States, despite overall improvements. This comprehensive analysis examines trends in 5-year relative survival rates from 2002–2006 to 2015–2019 for major cancer types, elucidating differences among racial/ethnic groups to guide equitable healthcare strategies. Data from the SEER Program spanning 2000–2020 were analyzed, focusing on breast, colorectal, prostate, lung, pancreatic cancers, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute leukemia, and multiple myeloma. Age-standardized relative survival rates were calculated to assess racial (White, Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander) and ethnic (Hispanic, Non-Hispanic) disparities, utilizing period analysis for recent estimates and excluding cases identified solely through autopsy or death certificates. While significant survival improvements were observed for most cancers, notable disparities persisted. Non-Hispanic Blacks exhibited the largest gain in breast cancer survival, with an increase of 5.2% points (from 77.6 to 82.8%); however, the survival rate remained lower than that of Non-Hispanic Whites (92.1%) . Colorectal cancer survival declined overall (64.7–64.1%), marked by a 6.2% point drop for Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives (66.3–60.1%) . Prostate cancer survival declined across all races, with Non-Hispanic American Indian/ Alaska Natives showing a decrease of 7.7% points (from 96.9 to 89.2%). Lung cancer, acute leukemia, and multiple myeloma showed notable increases across groups. Substantial racial/ethnic disparities in cancer survival underscore the notable need for tailored strategies ensuring equitable access to advanced treatments, particularly addressing significant trends in colorectal and pancreatic cancers among specific minority groups. Careful interpretation of statistical significance is warranted given the large dataset. Keywords Trends, Relative survival rates, Cancer sites, Race/ethnicity, United States, Update Cancer survival rates across racial and ethnic groups in the United States have long been a subject of intense scrutiny and concern. Numerous studies have consistently revealed disparities in survival outcomes among different populations, with African Americans, Hispanics, and certain other minority groups often exhibiting lower survival rates compared to non-Hispanic Whites for various cancer types1–7. These disparities persist despite advancements in cancer screening, treatment, and management over the past two decades3. While improved survival has been observed for several cancers, such as breast cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), and multiple myeloma, the extent to which these gains have been equally distributed across racial and ethnic lines remains unclear8–10. 1Pancreas Center, Nanjing BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. 2Pancreas Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China. 3Pancreas Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. 4Vice-President, Pancreas Center, Pancreas Institute of Nanjing Medical University, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China. 5These authors contributed equally: Chongfa Chen, Lingdi Yin and Chunhui Lu. 6These a

FAQs

What time periods does the study compare for 5-year cancer survival?

The study compares 5-year relative survival trends between 2002–2006 and 2015–2019.

Which groups are used to assess racial and ethnic disparities?

Racial groups include White, Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Asian/Pacific Islander, while ethnicity compares Hispanic and Non-Hispanic populations.

Do cancer survival rates improve overall, and do disparities persist?

Survival improved for most cancer types, but substantial racial/ethnic disparities persisted across the evaluated sites.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Miles