Cancer and Hispanic Americans

Hispanic American men and women generally have lower cancer rates than the non-Hispanic white population. However, disparities still exist in certain types of cancer.

  • From 2014-2018, Hispanic men were 20 percent less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than non-Hispanic white men.
  • Hispanic women are 30 percent less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than non-Hispanic white women.
  • Both Hispanic men and women are almost twice as likely to have, and to die from, liver cancer than non-Hispanic whites.
  • Hispanic men and women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with stomach cancer, and twice as likely to die from stomach cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic white men and women.
  • Hispanic women are 40 percent more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 30 percent more likely to die from cervical cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic white women.

Diagnosis

Age-adjusted percentages of cancer among adults aged 18 and over, 2019
CancerHispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites4.112.40.3
Breast (women)1.02.00.5
Cervical (women)0.81.40.6
Prostate (men) 0.72.80.3

Source: NCHS 2021. National Health Interview Survey. Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults – 2019. [Accessed 7/22/2021]
https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NHISDataQueryTool/SHS_adult/index.html

Top Cancer Sites for Hispanics (2014-2018)

Cancer Incidence Rates per 100,000 – Men
CancerHispanic MenNon-Hispanic White MenHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites375.3520.40.7
Colon & Rectum39.542.20.9
Esophagus4.38.50.5
Kidney21.624.20.9
Liver & IBD20.411.31.8
Lung34.460.70.6
Oral Cavity & Pharynx10.320.20.5
Pancreas12.816.30.8
Prostate90.9118.90.8
Stomach13.17.71.7

*IBD = Intrahepatic Bile Duct

Source: NCI 2021. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2018. Table 1.24 and SEER*Explorer [ Accessed 7/22/2021].
https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2018/, https://seer.cancer.gov/explorer/

Top Cancer Sites for Hispanics (2014-2018)

Cancer Incidence Rates per 100,000 – Women
CancerHispanic WomenNon-Hispanic White WomenHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites348.4460.20.8
Breast100.3137.90.7
Cervical9.36.71.4
Colon & Rectum29.332.70.9
Kidney12.111.71.0
Liver & IBD8.24.02.1
Lung24.653.90.5
Pancreas11.111.90.9
Stomach8.43.82.2
Uterus25.328.70.9

Source: NCI 2021. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2018. Table 1.25 and SEER*Explorer [ Accessed 7/22/2021].
https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2018/, https://seer.cancer.gov/explorer/

5 Year Survival Rate

Not available at this time.

Death Rate

Cancer Death Rates per 100,000 – Men (2014-2018)
CancerHispanic MenNon-Hispanic White MenHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites134.0190.20.7
Colon & Rectum14.016.10.9
Liver & IBD13.38.41.6
Lung23.049.40.5
Pancreas9.513.00.7
Prostate15.617.90.9
Stomach6.33.12.0

Source: NCI 2021. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2018. Table 1.20
https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2018/sections.html

Cancer Death Rates per 100,000 – Women (2014-2018)
CancerHispanic WomenNon-Hispanic White WomenHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites94.6137.80.7
Breast13.820.10.7
Cervical2.62.01.3
Colon & Rectum8.611.50.7
Liver & IBD6.03.61.7
Pancreas7.89.60.8
Stomach3.91.62.4
Uterus4.14.50.9

Source: NCI 2021. Seer Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2018. Table 1.20
https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2018/sections.html

Screening

Breast Cancer

Percentage of women age 40 and over who had a mammogram within the past 2 years, 2018 (crude)
Hispanic WomenNon-Hispanic White WomenHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
62.768.00.9

Source: CDC 2021. Health United States, 2019. Table 33.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus19-508.pdf [PDF 3.02MB]

Cervical Cancer

Percentage of women age 18 and over who had a Pap smear within the past 3 years, 2018 (crude)
Hispanic WomenNon-Hispanic White WomenHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
71.163.71.0

Source: CDC 2021. Health United States, 2019. Table 34.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus19-508.pdf [PDF 3.02MB]

Colon Cancer

Adults aged 50-75 who had any colorectal test or procedure, 2018
HispanicNon-Hispanic White WomenHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
49.364.00.8

Source: CDC 2021. Health United States, 2019. Table 35.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus19-508.pdf [PDF 3.02MB]