Breast cancer is the number one cancer incidence site in women regardless of race or ethnicity. Female breast cancer death rates for white women declined steadily after 1989 and dropped sharply after 1995. Death rates for black women climbed steadily between 1979 and 1991, but leveled off after 1991. Prostate cancer incidence rates fluctuated dramatically in the 1970s and 1980s. Incidence rates increased dramatically between 1988 and 1992 and then decreased after 1992.
Prostate cancer is the number one cancer incidence site in men for all racial and ethnic groups.
Prostate cancer death rates have also varied considerably over time and death rates for blacks and whites have steadily declined since 1994. Death rates in black men are double those of other racial and ethnic groups. Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death among men and women in all racial and ethnic groups except for Hispanic women. Female lung cancer incidence rates have leveled off since 1991. Incidence rates in white men steadily increased between 1973 and 1980, leveled off around 1980, then declined steadily after 1991.