2025 American Cancer Society Report Estimates Younger Female, Black, and Native American Patients Frequently Affected With Cancer

According to a report from the American Cancer Society, more Americans are surviving cancer, but it is more frequently affecting women as well as young and middle-aged adults. Additionally, Black and Native American patients are about 2 to 3 times more likely to die of cancer than White patients.¹

Image credit: Africa Studio | stock.adobe.com

An annual American Cancer Society report estimated that 2,041,910 new cancer cases and 618,120 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the US during 2025. Additionally, the cancer mortality rate continued to decline through 2022, averting nearly 4.5 million deaths since 1991 because of smoking reductions, earlier detection for some cancers, and improved treatment. Despite these reductions, disparities continue to persist, notably in Native American and Black patients.¹

The study shows that Native American patients bear the highest cancer mortality, including rates that are 2 to 3 times greater in kidney, liver, stomach, and cervical cancers compared with White patients. Similarly, Black individuals also have a 2-fold higher mortality than White people for prostate, stomach, and uterine corpus cancers.¹

Prior research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has also determined that Black women who develop breast cancer are approximately 40% more likely to die of the disease compared with their White counterparts, and depending on the type of breast cancer, this disparity ranges from about 17% to 50%.² In multiple myeloma, the receipt of treatment, timing of treatment initiation, and survival are also poorer in Black patients than in White patients. Approximately 59.5% of Black patients received treatment compared with 64.8% of White patients. Additionally, Black patients who received treatment within 1 year of diagnosis increased from 51.5% in 2007 through 2009 to 64.5% in 2014 through 2017. For White patients, the growth was about 54.3% to 71.4% during this same period. In a study evaluating adolescent and young adult patients with cancer, Black patients were among the groups who were more likely to have late-stage diagnoses for nearly all cancer types, such as breast, cervix, colon or rectum, lung, lymphoma, melanoma, and testis.²

Further, the American Cancer Society report also showed that cancer incidence has generally declined in men but has risen in women, narrowing the male-to-female rate ratio (RR) from a peak of about 1.6 (95% CI, 1.57–1.61) in 1992 to 1.1 (95% CI, 1.12–1.12) in 2021. Rates in women aged 50 to 64 years have already surpassed those in men (832.5 vs. 830.6 per 100,000), and younger women (< 50 years) have an 82% higher incidence rate than their male counterparts (141.1 vs. 77.4 per 100,000). This is up from about 51% in 2002. Lung cancer incidence in women also surpassed that in men among people younger than 65 years in 2021 (15.7 vs. 15.4 per 100,000; RR, 0.98, p = .03).¹

Data from the 2010 to 2015 SEER dataset⁴ also showed that in the US, there is a clear disparity among survivors of breast cancer based on age, with younger women having a higher risk of recurrence and mortality from breast cancer. Women aged 61 years and older were shown to have about 95% survival at 6 years, whereas women aged 60 and younger had about 90% survival at 6 years. Further, in data from the CANTO cohort of survivors of breast cancer published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2022, investigators found that in 4131 women with a follow up of 4 years, one predictor of lower quality of life based on the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Core30 summary score was younger age. Other factors outside of age included comorbidities, lower income, take-home hormonal therapy, smoking, and higher body mass index.⁴

Experts note that risk factors in young people—especially in women—may look different, with more research needed to confirm this hypothesis. By identifying these differences, experts can improve the quality of care for patients.^2,5

Smoking is a significant factor that can contribute to cancer risk. In addition, consistent sleeping patterns may also prevent cancer. Although individuals cannot control certain factors, such as genetics or family history, adhering to the following changes or lifestyle behaviors may help lower one’s risk of developing cancer: maintaining a healthy body weight; not consuming alcohol or consuming in moderation; eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables, and low in red and processed meat; physical activity; and regular cancer screenings.³

While cancer mortality continues to decline, future advancements are prone to widespread racial inequalities and a growing burden of disease in middle-aged and young adults, especially in women. The authors of the report state that continued progress will require investment in cancer prevention and access to equitable treatment, especially for Native American and Black individuals.¹

REFERENCES

1. Siegel RL, Kratzer TB, Giaquinto AN, Sung H, Jemel A. Cancer statistics, 2025. CA Cancer J Clin. 2025;75(1):10-45. doi:10.3322/caac.21871

2. McGovern, G. Black Women With Breast Cancer Have Higher Risk of Death Compared With White Women. Pharmacy Times. September 27, 2024. Accessed January 25, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/black-women-with-breast-cancer-have-higher-risk-of-death-compared-with-white-women

3. Rabin, RC. Cancer’s New Face: Younger and Female. The New York Times. January 16, 2025. Accessed January 20, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/health/cancer-younger-women.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur

4. Hippensteele, A. Addressing Disparities in Long-Term Survivorship and Quality of Life for Young Patients With Breast Cancer. Pharmacy Times. September 13, 2024. Accessed January 20, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/addressing-disparities-in-long-term-survivorship-and-quality-of-life-for-young-patients-with-breast-cancer

5. Davis, LE. Sex and Gender Inequalities in Oncology Care and Research Persist. Pharmacy Times. June 12, 2024. Accessed January 20, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/sex-and-gender-inequalities-in-oncology-care-and-research-persist