Cancer was responsible for around *** deaths per 100,000 population in the United States in 2023. The death rate for cancer has steadily decreased since the 1990’s, but cancer still remains the second leading cause of death in the United States. The deadliest type of cancer for both men and women is cancer of the lung and bronchus which will account for an estimated ****** deaths among men alone in 2025. Probability of surviving Survival rates for cancer vary significantly depending on the type of cancer. The cancers with the highest rates of survival include cancers of the thyroid, prostate, and testis, with five-year survival rates as high as ** percent for thyroid cancer. The cancers with the lowest five-year survival rates include cancers of the pancreas, liver, and esophagus. Risk factors It is difficult to determine why one person develops cancer while another does not, but certain risk factors have been shown to increase a person’s chance of developing cancer. For example, cigarette smoking has been proven to increase the risk of developing various cancers. In fact, around ** percent of cancers of the lung, bronchus and trachea among adults aged 30 years and older can be attributed to cigarette smoking. Other modifiable risk factors for cancer include being obese, drinking alcohol, and sun exposure.

The rate of breast cancer deaths in the U.S. has dramatically declined since 1950. As of 2022, the death rate from breast cancer had dropped from 31.9 to 18.7 per 100,000 population. Cancer is a serious public health issue in the United States. As of 2021, cancer is the second leading cause of death among women. Breast cancer incidence Breast cancer symptoms include lumps or thickening of the breast tissue and may include changes to the skin. Breast cancer is driven by many factors, but age is a known risk factor. Among all age groups, the highest number of invasive breast cancer cases were among those aged 60 to 69. The incidence rate of new breast cancer cases is higher in some ethnicities than others. White, non-Hispanic women had the highest incidence rate of breast cancer, followed by non-Hispanic Black women. Breast cancer treatment Breast cancer treatments usually involve several methods, including surgery, chemotherapy and biological therapy. Types of cancer diagnosed at earlier stages often require fewer treatments. A majority of the early stage breast cancer cases in the U.S. receive breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy.

Editor’s Choice

• Global Breast Cancer Market size is expected to be worth around USD 49.2 Bn by 2032 from USD 19.8 Bn in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period from 2022 to 2032.
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. In 2020, there were about 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer diagnosed globally.
• Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. In 2020, it was responsible for approximately 685,000 deaths worldwide.
• The survival rate of breast cancer has improved over the years. In the United States, the overall five-year survival rate of breast cancer is around 90%.
• The American Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms starting at age 40 for women at average risk.
• Although rare, breast cancer also occurs in men. Less than 1% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed in males.

(Source: WHO, American Cancer Society)

In 2021, Kentucky reported the highest cancer incidence rate in the United States, with around 510 new cases of cancer per 100,000 inhabitants. This statistic represents the U.S. states with the highest cancer incidence rates per 100,000 population in 2021.

The rate of breast cancer deaths in the U.S. has dramatically declined since 1950. As of 2023, the death rate from breast cancer was **** per 100,000 population. However, cancer is a serious public health issue in the United States and is the second leading cause of death among women. Breast cancer incidence Breast cancer symptoms include lumps or thickening of the breast tissue and may include changes to the skin. Breast cancer is driven by many factors, but age is a known risk factor. Among all age groups, the highest number of invasive breast cancer cases were among those aged 60 to 69. The incidence rate of new breast cancer cases is higher in some ethnicities than others. White, non-Hispanic women have the highest incidence rate of breast cancer, followed by non-Hispanic Black women. Breast cancer treatment Breast cancer treatments usually involve several methods, including surgery, chemotherapy and biological therapy. Types of cancer diagnosed at earlier stages often require fewer treatments. A majority of early stage breast cancer cases in the U.S. receive breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy.

Death rate has been age-adjusted by the 2000 U.S. standard population. Single-year data are only available for Los Angeles County overall, Service Planning Areas, Supervisorial Districts, City of Los Angeles overall, and City of Los Angeles Council Districts.Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in the US. People who smoke have the greatest risk of lung cancer, though lung cancer can also occur in people who have never smoked. Most cases are due to long-term tobacco smoking or exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. Cities and communities can take an active role in curbing tobacco use and reducing lung cancer by adopting policies to regulate tobacco retail; reducing exposure to secondhand smoke in outdoor public spaces, such as parks, restaurants, or in multi-unit housing; and improving access to tobacco cessation programs and other preventive services.For more information about the Community Health Profiles Data Initiative, please see the initiative homepage.

The leading causes of death in the United States are heart disease and cancer. However, in 2022, COVID-19 was the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for around six percent of all deaths that year. In 2022, there were around 45 deaths from COVID-19 per 100,000 population.

Cardiovascular disease

Deaths from cardiovascular disease are more common among men than women but have decreased for both sexes over the past few decades. Coronary heart disease accounts for the highest portion of cardiovascular disease deaths in the United States, followed by stroke and high blood pressure. The states with the highest death rates from cardiovascular disease include Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama. Smoking tobacco, physical inactivity, poor diet, stress, and being overweight or obese are all risk factors for developing heart disease.

Cancer

Although cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, like deaths from cardiovascular disease, deaths from cancer have decreased over the last few decades. The highest death rates from cancer come from lung cancer for both men and women. Breast cancer is the second deadliest cancer for women, while prostate cancer is the second deadliest cancer for men. West Virginia, Mississippi, and Kentucky lead the nation with the highest cancer death rates.

Population based cancer incidence rates were abstracted from National Cancer Institute, State Cancer Profiles for all available counties in the United States for which data were available. This is a national county-level database of cancer data that are collected by state public health surveillance systems. All-site cancer is defined as any type of cancer that is captured in the state registry data, though non-melanoma skin cancer is not included. All-site age-adjusted cancer incidence rates were abstracted separately for males and females. County-level annual age-adjusted all-site cancer incidence rates for years 2006–2010 were available for 2687 of 3142 (85.5%) counties in the U.S. Counties for which there are fewer than 16 reported cases in a specific area-sex-race category are suppressed to ensure confidentiality and stability of rate estimates; this accounted for 14 counties in our study. Two states, Kansas and Virginia, do not provide data because of state legislation and regulations which prohibit the release of county level data to outside entities. Data from Michigan does not include cases diagnosed in other states because data exchange agreements prohibit the release of data to third parties. Finally, state data is not available for three states, Minnesota, Ohio, and Washington. The age-adjusted average annual incidence rate for all counties was 453.7 per 100,000 persons. We selected 2006–2010 as it is subsequent in time to the EQI exposure data which was constructed to represent the years 2000–2005. We also gathered data for the three leading causes of cancer for males (lung, prostate, and colorectal) and females (lung, breast, and colorectal). The EQI was used as an exposure metric as an indicator of cumulative environmental exposures at the county-level representing the period 2000 to 2005. A complete description of the datasets used in the EQI are provided in Lobdell et al. and methods used for index construction are described by Messer et al. The EQI was developed for the period 2000– 2005 because it was the time period for which the most recent data were available when index construction was initiated. The EQI includes variables representing each of the environmental domains. The air domain includes 87 variables representing criteria and hazardous air pollutants. The water domain includes 80 variables representing overall water quality, general water contamination, recreational water quality, drinking water quality, atmospheric deposition, drought, and chemical contamination. The land domain includes 26 variables representing agriculture, pesticides, contaminants, facilities, and radon. The built domain includes 14 variables representing roads, highway/road safety, public transit behavior, business environment, and subsidized housing environment. The sociodemographic environment includes 12 variables representing socioeconomics and crime. This dataset is not publicly accessible because: EPA cannot release personally identifiable information regarding living individuals, according to the Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This dataset contains information about human research subjects. Because there is potential to identify individual participants and disclose personal information, either alone or in combination with other datasets, individual level data are not appropriate to post for public access. Restricted access may be granted to authorized persons by contacting the party listed. It can be accessed through the following means: Human health data are not available publicly. EQI data are available at: https://edg.epa.gov/data/Public/ORD/NHEERL/EQI. Format: Data are stored as csv files. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Jagai, J., L. Messer, K. Rappazzo , C. Gray, S. Grabich , and D. Lobdell. County-level environmental quality and associations with cancer incidence#. Cancer. John Wiley & Sons Incorporated, New York, NY, USA, 123(15): 2901-2908, (2017).

Some racial and ethnic categories are suppressed for privacy and to avoid misleading estimates when the relative standard error exceeds 30% or the unweighted sample size is less than 50 respondents. Margins of error are estimated at the 90% confidence level.

Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey (BRFSS) Data

Why This Matters

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. for men and women. Although colorectal cancer is most common among people aged 65 to 74, there has been an increase in incidences among people aged 40 to 49.

Nationally, Black people are disproportionately likely to both have colorectal cancer and die from it. Hispanic residents, and especially those with limited English proficiency, report having the lowest rate of colorectal cancer screenings.

Racial disparities in education, poverty, health insurance coverage, and English language proficiency are all factors that contribute to racial gaps in receiving colorectal cancer screenings. Increased colorectal cancer screening utilization has been shown to nearly erase the racial disparities in the death rate of colorectal cancer.

The District Response

The Colorectal Cancer Control Program (DC3C) aims to reduce colon cancer incidence and mortality by increasing colorectal cancer screening rates among District residents.

DC Health’s Cancer and Chronic Disease Prevention Bureau works with healthcare providers to improve the use of preventative health services and provide colorectal cancer screening services.

DC Health maintains the District of Columbia Cancer Registry (DCCR) to track cancer incidences, examine environmental substances that cause cancer, and identify differences in cancer incidences by age, gender, race, and geographical location.

BackgroundOver the last decades, the number of patients diagnosed with thyroid carcinoma has been increasing, highlighting the importance of comprehensively evaluating causes of death among these patients. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize the risk of death and causes of death in patients with thyroid carcinoma.MethodsA total of 183,641 patients diagnosed with an index thyroid tumor were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result database (1975–2016). Standardized mortality rates (SMRs) for non-cancer deaths were calculated to evaluate mortality risk and to compare mortality risks with the cancer-free US population. Cumulative mortality rates were calculated to explore the factors associated with higher risk of deaths.ResultsThere were 22,386 deaths recorded during follow-up, of which only 31.0% were due to thyroid cancer and 46.4% due to non-cancer causes. Non-cancer mortality risk among patients with thyroid cancer was nearly 1.6-fold (SMR=1.59) that of the general population. Cardiovascular diseases were the leading cause of non-cancer deaths, accounting for 21.3% of all deaths in thyroid cancer patients. Non-cancer causes were the dominant cause of death in thyroid cancer survivors as of the third year post-diagnosis. We found that males with thyroid cancer had a higher risk of all-cause mortality compared with females. The risk of suicide was highest in the first post-diagnostic year (5 years: SMR=8.27).ConclusionNon-cancer comorbidities have become the major risks of death in patients with thyroid tumor in the US, as opposed to death from the tumor itself. Clinicians and researchers should be aware of these risk trends in order to conduct timely intervention strategies.

Introduction

Breast Cancer Statistics: Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent and concerning health challenges, mostly among women. It is the most common cancer diagnosed in women worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the United States. The impact of breast cancer is significant, with millions of new cases diagnosed each year and hundreds of thousands of deaths attributed to the disease.

This article will provide critical insights into the incidence, survival rates, mortality, and disparities across different demographics, including age, race, and ethnicity. Understanding the latest statistics on breast cancer is crucial for driving progress in reducing the incidence and mortality rates, improving survival outcomes, and ultimately, finding a cure.

The leading causes of death among Black residents in the United States in 2022 included diseases of the heart, cancer, unintentional injuries, and stroke. The leading causes of death for African Americans generally reflects the leading causes of death for the entire United States population. However, a major exception is that death from assault or homicide is the seventh leading cause of death among African Americans, but is not among the ten leading causes for the general population. Homicide among African Americans The homicide rate among African Americans has been higher than that of other races and ethnicities for many years. In 2023, around 9,284 Black people were murdered in the United States, compared to 7,289 white people. A majority of these homicides are committed with firearms, which are easily accessible in the United States. In 2022, around 14,189 Black people died by firearms. However, suicide deaths account for over half of all deaths from firearms in the United States. Cancer disparities There are also major disparities in access to health care and the impact of various diseases. For example, the incidence rate of cancer among African American males is the greatest among all ethnicities and races. Furthermore, although the incidence rate of cancer is lower among African American women than it is among white women, cancer death rates are still higher among African American women.

Between 2017 and 2021, female breast cancer was the type of alcohol-associated cancer with the highest incidence in the United States, with a rate of nearly 130 per 100,000 people. This graph shows the rate of alcohol-related cancers per 100,000 people from 2017 to 2021 in the United States, by cancer type.

Some racial and ethnic categories are suppressed for privacy and to avoid misleading estimates when the relative standard error exceeds 30% or the unweighted sample size is less than 50 respondents.

Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey (BRFSS) Data

Why This Matters

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) and the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Breast cancer screenings can save lives by helping to detect breast cancer in its early stages when treatment is more effective.

While non-Hispanic white women and AFAB individuals are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than their counterparts of other races and ethnicities, non-Hispanic Black women and AFAB individuals die from breast cancer at a significantly higher rate than their counterparts races and ethnicities.

Later-stage diagnoses and prolonged treatment duration partly explain these disparities in mortality rate. Structural barriers to quality health care, insurance, education, affordable housing, and sustainable income that disproportionately affect communities of color also drive racial inequities in breast cancer screenings and mortality.

The District Response

Project Women Into Staying Healthy (WISH) provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings to uninsured or underinsured women and AFAB adults aged 21 to 64. Patient navigation, transportation assistance, and cancer education are also provided.

DC Health’s Cancer and Chronic Disease Prevention Bureau works with healthcare providers to improve the use of preventative health services and provide breast cancer screening services.

DC Health maintains the District of Columbia Cancer Registry (DCCR) to track cancer incidences, examine environmental substances that cause cancer, and identify differences in cancer incidences by age, gender, race, and geographical location.

Prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and renal cancers are major urogenital cancers. Of which, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed and second leading cause of cancer death for men in the United States. For urogenital cancers, urine is considered as proximate body fluid to the tumor site for developing non-invasiveness tests. However, the specific molecular signatures from different urogenital cancers are needed to relate changes in urine to various cancer detections. Herein, we utilized a previously published C4-Tip and C18/MAX-Tip workflow for enrichment of glycopeptides from urine samples and evaluated urinary glycopeptides for its cancer specificity. We analyzed 66 urine samples from bladder cancer (n = 27), prostate cancer (n = 4), clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC, n = 3), and benign plastic hyperplasia (BPH, n = 32) and then compared them with a previous publication that reported glycopeptides associated with aggressive prostate cancer (Gleason score ≥ 8). We further demonstrated the cancer specificity of the glycopeptides associated with aggressive prostate cancer. In this study, a total of 33 glycopeptides were identified to be specifically differentially expressed in prostate cancer compared to other urogenital cancer types as well as BPH urines. By cross-comparison with our previous urinary glycoproteomic dataset for aggressive prostate cancer, we reported a total of four glycopeptides from glycoproteins DSC2, MGAM, PIK3IP1, and CD55, commonly identified to be prostate cancer-specific. Together, these results deepen our understanding of the urinary glycoproteins associated with urogenital cancer types and expand our knowledge of the cancer specificity of urinary glycoproteins among urogenital cancer progression.

Lung Cancer Diagnostic Tests Market Outlook

The lung cancer diagnostic tests market size was valued at USD 2.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 6.1 billion by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.5% during the forecast period. This substantial growth can be attributed to the rising prevalence of lung cancer globally, advancements in diagnostic technologies, and increasing awareness regarding early detection and treatment of lung cancer. The growing aging population and the high incidence of smoking, which is a leading cause of lung cancer, further propel the demand for diagnostic tests.

The increasing prevalence of lung cancer is one of the primary drivers of market growth. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, necessitating the development of more accurate and early diagnostic methods. With advancements in medical technology, such as molecular diagnostics and non-invasive imaging techniques, the accuracy and efficiency of lung cancer diagnosis have significantly improved. These innovations not only enhance the detection rate but also facilitate personalized treatment plans, thereby improving patient outcomes.

Furthermore, government initiatives and funding for cancer research play a crucial role in market expansion. Many countries are investing heavily in cancer research, leading to the development of new diagnostic tools and techniques. For instance, organizations such as the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the United States provide substantial grants for lung cancer research, fostering innovations in diagnostics. In addition, public awareness campaigns and screening programs conducted by healthcare organizations and governments encourage early diagnosis, which is vital for successful treatment and survival rates.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in diagnostic tools is another significant factor contributing to market growth. AI algorithms can analyze medical images with high precision, aiding radiologists in identifying lung cancer at earlier stages. Moreover, AI-driven software can evaluate large datasets from genetic and molecular tests, providing insights into the most effective treatment options based on individual patient profiles. This technological advancement not only enhances the accuracy of diagnostics but also reduces the time required for analysis, thereby increasing the efficiency of healthcare services.

The EGFR Mutation Test is a pivotal advancement in the realm of lung cancer diagnostics, offering a more personalized approach to treatment. This test specifically identifies mutations in the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene, which are often present in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. By detecting these mutations, healthcare providers can tailor therapies that target the specific genetic alterations, thereby improving treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. The growing adoption of EGFR Mutation Tests underscores the shift towards precision medicine, where treatments are increasingly customized based on individual genetic profiles. This approach not only enhances the effectiveness of therapies but also minimizes adverse effects, as treatments are more accurately aligned with the patient's unique genetic makeup.

Regionally, North America holds the largest share of the lung cancer diagnostic tests market, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. The dominance of North America can be attributed to the presence of advanced healthcare infrastructure, high healthcare expenditure, and a robust research landscape. The Asia Pacific region, however, is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period, driven by increasing healthcare investments, growing awareness about lung cancer, and rising incidences of the disease in countries like China and India. The growing middle-class population and improving healthcare access in these countries further support market growth.

Test Type Analysis

The lung cancer diagnostic tests market is segmented by test type into imaging tests, sputum cytology, tissue biopsy, molecular tests, and others. Imaging tests are one of the most commonly used diagnostic methods for lung cancer detection. Techniques such as X-rays, CT scans, and PET scans provide detailed visuals of the lungs, helping in identifying abnormal growths or tumors. The non-invasive nature of these tests and their ability to provide quick results make them a preferred choice among healthcare

SEER Limited-Use cancer incidence data with associated population data. Geographic areas available are county and SEER registry. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute collects and distributes high quality, comprehensive cancer data from a number of population-based cancer registries. Data include patient demographics, primary tumor site, morphology, stage at diagnosis, first course of treatment, and follow-up for vital status. The SEER Program is the only comprehensive source of population-based information in the United States that includes stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis and survival rates within each stage.

MMWR Surveillance Summary 66 (No. SS-1):1-8 found that nonmetropolitan areas have significant numbers of potentially excess deaths from the five leading causes of death. These figures accompany this report by presenting information on potentially excess deaths in nonmetropolitan and metropolitan areas at the state level. They also add additional years of data and options for selecting different age ranges and benchmarks. Potentially excess deaths are defined in MMWR Surveillance Summary 66(No. SS-1):1-8 as deaths that exceed the numbers that would be expected if the death rates of states with the lowest rates (benchmarks) occurred across all states. They are calculated by subtracting expected deaths for specific benchmarks from observed deaths. Not all potentially excess deaths can be prevented; some areas might have characteristics that predispose them to higher rates of death. However, many potentially excess deaths might represent deaths that could be prevented through improved public health programs that support healthier behaviors and neighborhoods or better access to health care services. Mortality data for U.S. residents come from the National Vital Statistics System. Estimates based on fewer than 10 observed deaths are not shown and shaded yellow on the map. Underlying cause of death is based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) Heart disease (I00-I09, I11, I13, and I20–I51) Cancer (C00–C97) Unintentional injury (V01–X59 and Y85–Y86) Chronic lower respiratory disease (J40–J47) Stroke (I60–I69) Locality (nonmetropolitan vs. metropolitan) is based on the Office of Management and Budget’s 2013 county-based classification scheme. Benchmarks are based on the three states with the lowest age and cause-specific mortality rates. Potentially excess deaths for each state are calculated by subtracting deaths at the benchmark rates (expected deaths) from observed deaths. Users can explore three benchmarks: “2010 Fixed” is a fixed benchmark based on the best performing States in 2010. “2005 Fixed” is a fixed benchmark based on the best performing States in 2005. “Floating” is based on the best performing States in each year so change from year to year. SOURCES CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, mortality data (see http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/deaths.htm); and CDC WONDER (see http://wonder.cdc.gov). REFERENCES Moy E, Garcia MC, Bastian B, Rossen LM, Ingram DD, Faul M, Massetti GM, Thomas CC, Hong Y, Yoon PW, Iademarco MF. Leading Causes of Death in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Areas – United States, 1999-2014. MMWR Surveillance Summary 2017; 66(No. SS-1):1-8. Garcia MC, Faul M, Massetti G, Thomas CC, Hong Y, Bauer UE, Iademarco MF. Reducing Potentially Excess Deaths from the Five Leading Causes of Death in the Rural United States. MMWR Surveillance Summary 2017; 66(No. SS-2):1–7.

BackgroundCancer is the leading cause of death among Latinos, the largest minority population in the United States (US). To address cancer challenges experienced by Latinos, we conducted a catchment area population assessment (CAPA) using validated questions from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) population health assessment supplement at our NCI-designated cancer center in California.MethodsA mixed-methods CAPA was administered by bilingual-bicultural staff, with a focus on understanding the differences between foreign-born and US-born Latinos.Results255 Latinos responded to the survey conducted between August 2019 and May 2020. Most respondents were foreign-born (63.9%), female (78.2%), and monolingual Spanish speakers (63.2%). Results showed that compared to US-born Latinos, foreign-born individuals were older, had lower educational attainment, were most likely to be monolingual Spanish speakers, were low-income, and were more likely to be uninsured. Foreign-born Latinos had lower levels of alcohol consumption and higher consumption of fruits and vegetables. The rate of preventive cancer screenings for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer did not differ by birthplace, although a low fraction (35.3%) of foreign-born Latinas who were up-to-date compared to US-born Latinas (83.3%) with colorectal cancer screening was observed. Time since the last routine check-up for all preventable cancers (cervical p=0.0002, breast p=0.0039, and colorectal p=0.0196) is significantly associated with being up to date with cancer screening. Individuals who had a check-up of two or more years ago are 84% less likely to be up to date with pap smears than those who had a check-up within the year (p=0.0060). Individuals without health insurance are 94% less likely to be up to date with mammograms and colonoscopy/FIT tests (p=0.0016 and p=0.0133, respectively) than those who are insured. There is no significant association between screening and nativity.ConclusionsConsiderable differences in socio-economic and environmental determinants of health and colorectal cancer screening rates were observed between US-born and foreign-born Latinos. The present study represents the foundation for future targeted intervention among immigrant populations at our cancer center’s catchment area.

Latin Americans are highly heterogeneous regarding the type of Native American ancestry. Consideration of specific associations with common diseases may lead to substantial advances in unraveling of disease etiology and disease prevention.Here we investigate possible associations between the type of Native American ancestry and leading causes of death. After an aggregate-data study based on genome-wide genotype data from 1805 admixed Chileans and 639,789 deaths, we validate an identified association with gallbladder cancer relying on individual data from 64 gallbladder cancer patients, with and without a family history, and 170 healthy controls. Native American proportions were markedly underestimated when the two main types of Native American ancestry in Chile, originated from the Mapuche and Aymara indigenous peoples, were combined together. Consideration of the type of Native American ancestry was crucial to identify disease associations. Native American ancestry showed no association with gallbladder cancer mortality (P = 0.26). By contrast, each 1% increase in the Mapuche proportion represented a 3.7% increased mortality risk by gallbladder cancer (95%CI 3.1–4.3%, P = 6×10−27). Individual-data results and extensive sensitivity analyses confirmed the association between Mapuche ancestry and gallbladder cancer. Increasing Mapuche proportions were also associated with an increased mortality due to asthma and, interestingly, with a decreased mortality by diabetes. The mortality due to skin, bladder, larynx, bronchus and lung cancers increased with increasing Aymara proportions. Described methods should be considered in future studies on human population genetics and human health. Complementary individual-based studies are needed to apportion the genetic and non-genetic components of associations identified relying on aggregate-data.