Rather than on the system by which care is administered - unless, of course, care is available to all in a society. But yes, the US does have higher survival rates.
Economics Determine Cancer Survival Worldwide but Race Matters in U.S.By Crystal Phend, Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Published: July 16, 2008
Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
LONDON, July 16 -- Cancer survival rates differ widely around the world, primarily along economic lines but racially in the U.S., according to the first direct global comparison.
Five-year survival rates for breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer were generally higher in North America, Australia, Japan, and most of Europe than in Africa, South America, and eastern Europe, found Michel P. Coleman, M.B.Bch., M.Sc., of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and colleagues.
In the U.S., cancer survival was 7% to 14% higher among white patients than black patients, particularly for breast cancer, the investigators reported online today in The Lancet Oncology. The racial gap in survival could be because of differences in stage at diagnosis, access to healthcare, and compliance with treatment, the researchers suggested.
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The well-known difference between U.S. and European cancer survival rates was unlikely to be entirely attributable to methodology in the registries, and more likely related to the amount of investment in health technology such as CT scanners, the researchers suggested.
Although some of the variation might have reflected the intensity of screening and other diagnostic efforts, Dr. Coleman's group said the rankings may allow a nation to compare the success of their cancer control efforts and "might therefore be a useful stimulus for change."
More:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/BreastCancer/10155 
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