CDC: Childhood cancer disparities rise

The cancer death rate for children ages 19 and under in the U.S. fell 24% from 2.75 to 2.1 per 100,000 people from 2001 to 2021, but declines stalled for Black and Hispanic youth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the death rate fell between 2001 and 2011 for all youth, only rates for white youth continued to decrease through 2021. In 2021, the death rate for white youth was 15%-16% lower than for Black and Hispanic youth. Oncologists and public health officials attribute the disparity to a lack of equal access to cutting-edge cancer treatments or treatment centers. The expense of novel treatments can be unaffordable for low-income patients and those without insurance.