Cancer is a major yet under-recognised contributor to the mortality gap between people with and without disability. This study aimed to quantify these inequalities to inform cancer control efforts to reduce the gap. Nationally linked data was used to construct a cohort of over 10 million adults in Australia aged 25–74 years. After age-standardisation, per 100,000 person-years, there were 314 more cancer related deaths in females and 410 more in males with disability than those without disability. 

By 5-year age group, lung cancer was the leading contributor to absolute inequalities in females and males aged 35 years and older. In females, across most age groups, breast cancer was the second largest contributor to absolute inequalities, followed by colorectal cancer. In males, colorectal cancer was the second largest contributor across most age groups, with prostate cancer contributing substantially to absolute inequalities in those aged 55 years and older. A substantial proportion of differences in cancer-related deaths between people with and without disability, across most age groups in both females and males were driven by cancers linked to smoking, obesity, and alcohol consumption.

The study concluded that people with disability had higher cancer mortality overall and in relation to specific cancers than people without disability. To close the gap, effort should prioritise interventions that work for people with disability across the cancer control pathway.