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Basic Information

Disparities—or inequalities—occur when members of certain population groups do not enjoy the same health status as other groups. Disparities are most often identified along racial and ethnic lines—showing that African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Alaska Natives and whites have different disease rates and survival rates. But disparities also extend beyond race and ethnicity. For example, cancer health disparities can involve biological, environmental, and behavioral factors, as well as differences noted on the basis of income and education.

Disparities are determined and measured by three health statistics—incidence (the number of new cancers), mortality (the number of cancer deaths), and survival rates (the length of survival following diagnosis of cancer). Health disparities occur when one group of people has a higher incidence or mortality rate than another, or when survival rates are less for one group than another.

Source: National Cancer Institute.