Disparities in colon and rectal cancer queried individually between Hispanics and Whites

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. Racial disparities between Hispanics and Whites exist for incidence of late-onset (LO) CRC. However, not much is known about potential disparities between colon cancer (CC) and rectal cancer (RC) incidence queried individually.

Using the SEER database data from 2000 to 2010, we obtained the national estimates of CC and RC for Hispanics and Whites. We analyzed trends in incidence, mortality, gender and stage of disease for early-onset (EO) (<50 years old) and LO (>50 years old) CC and RC.

In Hispanics, the overall incidence of CC and RC increased by 47% and 52%, respectively; while in Whites, the overall incidence of CC and RC decreased by 13% and 2% respectively. Incidence of EO CC increased in both Hispanics and Whites by 83% and 17%, respectively, and incidence of EO RC also increased for both groups with a 76% increase in Hispanics and a 34% increase in Whites. For LO CC, the incidence increased by 37% in Hispanics while it decreased by 17% in Whites and for LO RC, the trend in incidence increased in Hispanics by 41%, but decreased in Whites by 11%.

This study established that the incidence of CC and RC are different and there is racial disparity in incidence between Whites and Hispanics. This study, hopefully, will help in crafting public policy that might help in addressing this disparity.