Cancer Leading Cause of Death Among Hispanic/Latino People; Higher Burden for Largely Preventable Cancers Including Cervical, Liver and Stomach, ACS Report Finds

Key Takeaways

• Cancer leading cause of death for Hispanic/Latino people overall
• Excess burden dominated by largely preventable infection-related cancers
• Overall cancer incidence in Hispanic men and women nearly equivalent as rates rising in women and falling in men
• Hispanic people 3 times as likely as White people to be uninsured, a major barrier to cancer prevention and early detection

ATLANTA, October 5, 2026 - Research released today by the American Cancer Society (ACS) using the latest mortality data from 2024 reveals cancer is the leading cause of death within the Hispanic and Latino community in the United States. The report, Cancer Statistics for Hispanic/Latino People, 2026, is the most comprehensive review of cancer information for this population, showing an estimated 229,900 Hispanic people will be diagnosed with cancer this year and 54,200 will die from the disease. The data also show 36% higher rates of cervical cancer in Hispanic versus White women and double the rates of liver and stomach cancers - infection-related cancers that are largely preventable. The report is published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, the flagship journal of the American Cancer Society.

"The Hispanic and Latino community in the U.S. is disproportionately affected by cancers like stomach and liver that have low survival and could be prevented through better access to health care," said Anatu Saka, MPH, associate scientist, cancer surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the study. "Testing and treatment of cancer-causing infections such as H. pylori, HCV, and HBV would go far to reduce the burden in this growing population. However, barriers to timely care, especially the lack of insurance coverage, play a major role. We must do better."

The Hispanic and Latino community is the nation's second-largest racial and ethnic group, accounting for 20% of the total population (68 million) in the U.S., plus approximately 3 million Hispanic Americans residing in Puerto Rico.

For the report, researchers examined cancer occurrence, risk factors, and screening among U.S. Hispanic people using federally funded, high-quality, population-based cancer registry data, along with national vital statistics and survey data.

Other key findings in the study include:

• Cancer incidence is rising in Hispanic women and falling in Hispanic men, narrowing the male-to-female gap from 40% higher rates in men in 2002 to nearly equivalent in 2022.
• Uterine corpus (endometrial) cancer incidence and mortality increased by more than 2% per year in Hispanic women over the past decade.
• Cancer screening is lower in Hispanic people than in White people for breast (64% versus 69%), cervical (71% versus 82%), and colorectal (56% versus 67%) cancers.
• Cancer disparities in Hispanic people partly reflect less access to healthcare; 25% of Hispanic people 18-64 years of age are uninsured, three times that of White people (8%).
• The cancer profile among Puerto Rico residents is uniquely concerning, with cervical cancer incidence 73% higher than White women and 32% higher than other U.S. Hispanic women.

"Cervical cancer is all but preventable, yet Hispanic women continue to be left behind, especially in Puerto Rico where rates are the highest in the U.S.," explained Rebecca Siegel, MPH, senior scientific director, cancer surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and senior author of the study. "It's time to act on these persistent inequalities. Low-cost culturally appropriate educational interventions increase screening and can save lives for far less than the cost of treatment."

"Access to cancer prevention and early detection services is essential to reducing and ultimately eliminating cancer disparities," said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. "We urge lawmakers at all levels of government to prioritize access to comprehensive, affordable healthcare, including preventive services like vaccines, which can help prevent some cancers outright, and screenings, which can help detect cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage."

Other ACS authors participating in this study include Tyler Kratzer, MPH, Angela Giaquinto, MSPH, Natalia Mazzitelli, MPH, and Dr. Ahmedin Jemal.

Additional ACS Resources:

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About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.