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.

  • Hispanic males were 20% less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than non-Hispanic white males.1
  • Hispanic females were 30% less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than non-Hispanic white females.1
  • Both Hispanic males and females were almost twice as likely to have, and to die from, liver cancer than non-Hispanic whites.1
  • Hispanic males and females were twice as likely to be diagnosed with stomach cancer, and twice as likely to die from stomach cancer, than non-Hispanic white males and females.1
  • Hispanic females were 40% more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer than non-Hispanic white females.1

Diagnosis

Cancer among adults age 18 and over, age-adjusted percentage, 2023
CancerHispanicNon-Hispanic WhiteHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites3.713.00.3
Breast0.72.20.3
Cervical (women)0.41.20.3
Prostate (men)1.03.00.3
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Center for Health Statistics. Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults.

Top Cancer Sites for Hispanics (2017–2021)

Cancer Incidence among males, rate per 100,000 population, 2017–2021
CancerHispanic (any race) MalesNon-Hispanic White MalesHispanic (any race) / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites367.0510.70.7
Colon & Rectum39.442.00.9
Esophagus4.78.30.6
Kidney23.122.91.0
Liver & IBD21.511.21.9
Lung31.060.00.5
Oral Cavity & Pharynx10.220.10.5
Pancreas13.016.00.8
Prostate88.1114.90.8
Stomach11.97.51.6
*IBD = Intrahepatic Bile Duct
Source: SEER*Explorer: An interactive website for SEER cancer statistics. Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute; 2024 Apr 17 [Accessed 7/19/2024].

Top Cancer Sites for Hispanics (2017–2021)

Cancer incidence among females, rate per 100,000 population, 2017–2021
CancerHispanic (any race) FemalesNon-Hispanic White FemalesHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites347.8447.00.8
Breast101.2139.00.7
Cervical9.86.91.4
Colon & Rectum28.732.40.9
Kidney13.511.11.2
Liver & IBD9.44.32.2
Lung22.652.20.4
Pancreas11.411.91.0
Stomach8.43.72.3
Uterus26.927.71.0
Source: SEER*Explorer: An interactive website for SEER cancer statistics. Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute; 2024 Apr 17 [Accessed 7/19/2024].

5-Year Survival Rate

5-year survival rate among males by cancer site, percentage, 2014–2020
CancerHispanic (any race) MalesNon-Hispanic White MalesHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites63.668.70.9
Colon & Rectum62.565.21.0
Kidney77.079.01.0
Liver & IBD19.820.51.0
Lung20.122.60.9
Pancreas12.112.81.0
Prostate94.198.01.0
Stomach28.732.60.9
Source: SEER*Explorer: An interactive website for SEER cancer statistics. Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute; 2024 Apr 17 [Accessed 6/24/2024].
5-year survival rate among females, percentage, 2014–2020
CancerHispanic (any race) FemalesNon-Hispanic White FemalesHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites70.371.31.0
Breast88.493.01.0
Cervical69.667.81.0
Colon & Rectum66.466.11.0
Kidney81.680.91.0
Liver & IBD20.921.11.0
Lung31.330.81.0
Pancreas15.812.31.3
Stomach37.244.10.8
Uterus80.084.21.0
Source: SEER*Explorer: An interactive website for SEER cancer statistics. Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute; 2024 Apr 17 [Accessed 6/24/2024].

Death Rate

5-year mortality among males, age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population, 2018–2022
CancerHispanic (any race) MalesNon-Hispanic White MalesHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites126.8179.00.7
Colon & Rectum13.415.20.9
Liver & IBD12.68.41.5
Lung19.441.20.5
Pancreas9.713.20.7
Prostate15.418.10.9
Stomach5.72.82.0
Source: SEER*Explorer: An interactive website for SEER cancer statistics. Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute; 2024 Apr 17 [Accessed 6/24/2024].
5-year mortality among females, age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population, 2018–2022
CancerHispanic (any race) FemalesNon-Hispanic White FemalesHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
All Sites93.2131.00.7
Breast13.719.40.7
Cervical2.42.11.1
Colon & Rectum8.510.90.8
Liver & IBD6.13.81.6
Pancreas8.29.80.8
Stomach3.81.42.7
Uterus4.44.70.9
Source: SEER*Explorer: An interactive website for SEER cancer statistics. Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute; 2024 Apr 17 [Accessed 6/24/2024].

Screening

Breast Cancer

Women age 40 and over who had a mammogram within the past 2 years, percentage, 2019 (crude)
Hispanic WomenNon-Hispanic White WomenHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
69.469.41.0
Source: CDC, 2023. Health United States, 2020–2021. Table CanBrTest.

Cervical Cancer

Women age 18 and over who had a Pap smear within the past 3 years, percentage, 2018 (crude)
Hispanic WomenNon-Hispanic White WomenHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
71.163.71.1
Source: CDC, 2021. Health United States, 2019. Table 34.

Colorectal Cancer

Adults ages 50–75 who had any colorectal test or procedure, percentage, 2018
HispanicNon-Hispanic White WomenHispanic / Non-Hispanic White Ratio
49.364.00.8
Source: CDC 2021. Health United States, 2019. Table 35.

1 SEER*Explorer: An interactive website for SEER cancer statistics. Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute (back)


Last Edited: 10/29/2024