INDIGENOUS PEOPLES with blood cancer consistently experience poorer survival compared to non-Indigenous groups, a new global systematic review has found.1
Severe Evidence Gaps
There are approximately 476.6 million Indigenous people worldwide, across 90 countries and more than 5,000 distinct groups, comprising more than 6% of the global population.2
Yet, Indigenous Peoples with blood cancer face severe evidence gaps.
Emerging research suggests that Indigenous populations may experience differences in blood cancer incidence, later stage at diagnosis, and poorer survival compared with non-Indigenous groups.3
Although, researchers reported, findings are inconsistent, geographically limited, and often impacted by incomplete identification of Indigenous status.
More broadly, Indigenous Peoples experience health inequities and poorer outcomes due to the impacts of colonisation, structural racism, and intergenerational trauma.4
Lower Incidence but Poorer Survival
With a view to drawing a robust global conclusion, researchers analysed 126 articles across 16 countries, with 47% of reports published in the last 15 years and 90% from the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.1
Available articles, authors reported, highlighted just how limited data from Indigenous Peoples (particularly outside of high-income countries) is.
The review included more than 21,200 Indigenous Peoples with a blood cancer diagnosis.
Analysis revealed that Indigenous Peoples consistently experience poorer survival outcomes compared to non-Indigenous groups diagnosed with a blood cancer.
In fact, there was consistently lower incidence but poorer survival for most Indigenous groups, indicating that disparities are driven more by inequities in access to timely diagnosis, treatment, and culturally safe care, rather than disease occurrence.
Indigenous-Led Care
Indigenous-led research is necessary to address blood cancer inequalities.
Authors called for robust, Indigenous-specific cancer surveillance to improve data collection and enable culturally safe care.
They encouraged governments and researchers to work with Indigenous communities to ensure access to blood cancer care, with a view to culturally respectful and equitable health policies.
References
1 Jetann J et al. Blood cancers in indigenous populations: a global systematic review of incidence, mortality, and survival (1954–2024). Cancer Epidemiol. 2026;DOI:10.1016/j.canep.2026.103141.
2 World Health Organization. Who are Indigenous Peoples? 2025. Available at: https://www.who.int/initiatives/global-plan-of-action-for-health-of-indigenous-peoples/frequently-asked-questions-on-the-health-and-rights-of-indigenous-peoples. Last accessed: 23 June 2026.
3 Clough S et al. Blood cancer incidence, mortality and survival for Māori in New Zealand. Cancer Epidemiol. 2024;DOI:10.1016/j.canep.2024.102656.
4 Paradies Y. Colonisation, racism and indigenous health. J Popul Res. 2016;DOI:10.1007/s12546-016-9159-y.
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