Studies Link Incarceration with Lower Cancer Survival Rates—For Prisoner’s Partners, Too
by Anthony W. Accurso
Two recent studies highlight decreased cancer survival rates for those who’ve been incarcerated and their partners, too. The studies effectively connect abysmal prison healthcare to the lack of access to cancer screenings that accompanies poor health insurance after release from prison. Researcher Jingxuan Zhao, M.P.H., senior scientist in health services research at the American Cancer Society, led the two studies focusing on cancer and incarcerated populations.
The most recent study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) in January 2025, cross-referenced data on cancer deaths from the National Vital Statistics System with national jail and prison data at the county level. It covered all 3,062 U.S. counties in 50 states, plus Washington, D.C.
The study revealed that “higher county-level jail incarceration rates were associated with higher cancer mortality rates.” That is, in places with more people behind bars, the risk of dying of an invasive cancer was higher, “especially for liver and lung cancers.”
“Our findings from this study suggest that programs to address adverse health effects of mass incarceration are warranted, particularly for populations that suffer from inequities in cancer care and outcomes and are disproportionately incarcerated in the United States,” Zhao said in a press release. “Populations in areas with high incarceration rates may have limited access to cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment.” Furthermore, she added, incarceration “may disrupt local economies and labor markets and increase strain on social service systems.” The researcher called on politicians to enact “[m]ultilevel efforts to address these challenges” which “may help decrease cancer disparities at the community level.” See: County-level jail and state-level prison incarceration and cancer mortality in the United States, JCNI (Jan. 2025).
The second study was presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology Quality Care Symposium in San Francisco, where researchers identified individuals aged 50 and over “currently living with a partner who responded to the 2014-2020 Health and Retirement Study” and examined their access to cancer screening. About 1% of women and 12% of men reported ever being incarcerated while 11% of women and 1% of men reported their partner having been incarcerated. Researchers found that these individuals who had been incarcerated, as well as their never-incarcerated partners, were less likely to receive screenings for the most common forms of cancer—breast and colorectal.
“Having comprehensive health insurance is a critical factor for survivorship against cancer,” said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “Medicaid is an important source of health insurance for people who would not otherwise have access to care, including those who are transitioning back to their communities following incarceration.” She urged lawmakers in the 10 states that have not accepted expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act—also known as Obamacare—to do so in order “to improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of cancer.”
PLN has been following similar research for years, including a study of cancer rates in Connecticut, with an emphasis on current and former prisoners. That study “found that the risk of death rose when the cancer diagnosis took place during incarceration or during the first year after release from incarceration.” The bottom line is that the “death rate from cancer is about 60% higher for those in prison.” [See: PLN, Sep. 2023, p.37.]
It may not be news to any readers that prison healthcare is often substandard, but it may surprise many to know that access to healthcare is impeded even after release. The data indicates that—long after rejoining civilian society—prisoners suffer disparate health outcomes on top of the suffering that comes from housing discrimination and wealth gaps.
Additional sources: Oncology Practice Management, American Cancer Society
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