Racial and ethnic disparities in colorectal cancer continue, with Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Black individuals experiencing the highest incidence and mortality rates compared to White patients.
The incidence of colorectal cancer is highest in people who are Alaskan Native (88.5 per 100,000), Native American (46.0 per 100,000), or Black (41.7 per 100,000) vs White individuals (35.7 per 100,000).
Mortality patterns were similar in these patient populations, with rates highest in people who are Alaskan Native (50.5 per 100,000), Native American (17.5 per 100,000), or Black (17.6 per 100,000) vs White individuals (13.1 per 100,000).
According to American Cancer Society data, the decline in colorectal cancer incidence slowed from 3% to 4% annually during the 2000s to 1% annually during 2011 to 2019. This was driven partly by an increase in individuals younger than 55 years of 1% to 2% annually since the mid-1990s. Consequently, the proportion of cases among those younger than 55 years doubles, from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019.
- See “American Cancer Society Data Show Colorectal Cancer Rates Are Rising in Younger Adults and Shifting to More Advanced Disease in People of All Ages” by Jo Cavallo on the American Society of Clinical Oncology Post website (March 1, 2023)
- See the American Cancer Society report “Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures, 2023-2025.”
