US Cancer Deaths Fall 35% Since 1991, Disparities Persist

A new report published Wednesday, June 24, 2026, by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) highlights a stark paradox in the nation's fight against cancer: while overall death rates have fallen dramatically over the past three decades, significant disparities persist along lines of race, income, and geography. The national cancer death rate has declined by 35% since 1991, averting an estimated 4.8 million deaths and increasing the survivor population to over 18.6 million. However, Black and American Indian or Alaska Native communities continue to bear the heaviest burden, experiencing the highest overall cancer death rates of any racial or ethnic group in the United States.

The report, the AACR's Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2026, documents that these populations also face higher incidence and mortality rates for specific cancers, including stomach, gallbladder, and liver cancers. While some gaps are narrowing, the progress is uneven. The disparity in overall cancer mortality between Black and white Americans fell from 34% higher among Black people in 1991 to 9% higher in 2024. Similarly, the cervical cancer death rate among Hispanic women, once 70% higher...