Report: Cancer Deaths on the Decline

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While cancer continues to be a leading cause of death among those living in the US, 2001 to 2022 saw a steady drop in cancer cases, according to a the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer.  

The decline can be attributed to the decrease in incidence and deaths due to lung cancer and other cancers related to smoking, according to researchers.  

Alternatively, cancers related to obesity, which is linked to an increased risk of cancer, have risen over the past 20 years. This has led to higher rates of female breast, uterus, colon and rectal, pancreatic, kidney, and liver cancers, according to the report. 

Let’s break down the report and discuss what the data means for Latinos and all people. 

Cancer by the Numbers 

The new report, supported by the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Cancer Society, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, shared new data on US cancer. 

In men, incidences of new cancer diagnoses dropped from 2001 through 2013 and stayed the same through 2021.  

In women, cases increased every year from 2003 to 2021, except in 2020. 

One of the most prominent cancers impacting women during this period was breast cancer, which gradually increased over time. 

However, given the fact that breast cancer is relatively easy to treat when caught early thanks to developments in modern medicine such as cancer screenings, deaths greatly decreased.  

In children, cancer rates dropped over the 21st century. Cancer rates in adolescents and young adults also declined up until recently, when the decline slowed and remained consistent.  

view the full report 

Cancer in People of Different Backgrounds 

When considering background, cancer incidences proved to stable among men in each major population and background, but increased among women from 2017 to 2021, except 2020. 

From 2017 to 2021, the prominence of cancer in men was highest among non-Hispanic Black men. 

Despite the fact that prostate cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer among men, it had one of the highest drops during this time.  

During this period, incidence in women was highest among American Indian and Alaska Native women. 

The COVID-19 pandemic had an interesting impact on incidences of cancer, especially in individual states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.  

For instance, cancer took a sharp decline in 2020, supposedly due to the disruptions in health care, before returning to pre-pandemic levels the following year. 

This highlights the need for consistent healthcare, even during public health emergencies so that cancer can be prevented, caught early, and treated.  

view the full report

Cancer in Latinos 

When it comes to cancer, Latinos are exposed to certain factors, such as the non-medical drivers of health, that can influence or increase their risk of cancer. These factors can also impact their chances of survival of the disease. 

Between 2017 and 2019, and 2021, Latinos had a lower overall cancer incidence rate compared to American Indian and Alaska Native populations, which had the highest, followed by White then Black individuals.  

During the same period, cancer rates increased by 0.8%-2.0% in Latino children along with Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaska Native children, according to the report. 

What’s more, colorectal cancer incidence rates were down by 0.8% in White men and 0.9% in Latino men. 

Bladder cancer, which is the fourth most prevalent cancer in men, also showed a decline in White, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Latino men during this time. 

In Asian/Pacific Islander women, stomach cancer rates were stable while Latina women experienced a steep increase in cases of uterine cancer. 

Meanwhile, colorectal cancer rates decreased in White and Black women and remained stable in Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Latina women. 

view the full report

Cancer Deaths by Background 

Deaths decreased during the period between 2012 and 2022, according to the report. 

For instance, prostate cancer deaths decreased for American Indian and Alaska Native men and remained consistent among White, Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Latino men during 2018-2022. 

Death by colorectal cancer, which is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in American Indian and Alaska Native individuals, saw some stability among Asian/Pacific Islander men and Latina women. 

However, between 2018 and 2022, rates of death from pancreatic cancer increased among White men, American Indian and Alaska Native and Latina women. 

Lastly, there was a significant trend of decline in liver cancer deaths in men. 

Liver cancer deaths increased between 2001 to 2012, stabilized between 2012 and 2017, and then decreased by 1.2% per year during 2017-2022.  

The decrease was largely seen among Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Latino, and White men. 

view the full report

Volunteer for a Clinical Trial 

One way we can continue the trend of decreasing rates of cancer is to increase the number of Latinos and all people in clinical trials. 

Clinical trials are studies that help researchers learn more to help slow, manage, and treat Alzheimer’s and cancer for current and future family members. But without volunteers for clinical trials, the benefits may miss this group. 

Visit our clinical trials page to find a clinical trial, read about hero volunteers, and more! 

“Volunteers in clinical trials are not only helping themselves, but they’re also building a future with better treatments that can help their families in the future,” said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. 

Those looking for opportunities based in San Antonio can search the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio’s Find a Clinical Trial database to learn more about available clinical trials and eligibility requirements. 

On a national level, visit clinicaltrials.gov to find a clinical trial near you. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLINICAL TRIALS!