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ACS report identifies disparities in cancer incidence, mortality among Hispanic/Latino Americans
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Hispanics and Latino Americans have a unique cancer risk profile that requires a targeted approach to disease prevention, according to the latest edition of Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2009-2011 released by the American Cancer Society. According to the report, Hispanics and Latino Americans are less likely than non-Hispanic whites to develop and die from all cancers combined. However, it also found that Hispanics have higher rates of cancers that are related to infection, and are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer at a later stage.
First published in 2000, the report is updated every three years to provide estimates on the number of new cancer cases and deaths in Hispanics in the current year. It includes statistics on incidence, survival and death rates, along with data on risk factors and screening prevalence among Hispanics. The purpose of the report is to inform community leaders, public health and health care workers and others interested in cancer prevention, early detection and treatment for Hispanics. According to the authors of the report, data reported in the United States may not address differences between Hispanic subpopulations according to country of origin and length of time in the United States.
According to the report, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Hispanic/Latino men, breast cancer is the most common among women and colorectal cancer the second-most common cancer in both men and women.
The authors estimated that there were 98,900 new cancer cases in Hispanics/Latinos in 2009. Lung and colorectal cancer are the top two causes of cancer death among men; lung and breast cancer are the top two among women. An estimated 18,800 Hispanics are expected to die from cancer in 2009.
Cancer incidence rates decreased among Hispanic men (1.3% per year) and women (0.6% per year) between 1997 and 2006 compared with smaller decreases in non-Hispanic men (0.8% per year) and women (0.4% per year). At this same time, death rates from cancer decreased by 2.2% per year in men and 1.2% per year in women compared with 1.5% per year in non-Hispanic men and 0.9% per year in non-Hispanic women.
Additional differences exist among non-Hispanic whites and Hispanic/Latino Americans, according to the report. Examples include:
- Hispanic/Latino Americans have lower incidence and death rates for all cancers combined and for prostate, breast, lung and colorectal.
- Cancers of the stomach, cervix, liver and gallbladder, along with acute lymphocytic leukemia, are higher among Hispanics/Latino Americans.
- Stage of diagnosis is later for many cancers, including breast and melanoma, among Hispanics/Latino Americans.
- Five-year survival is generally similar between Hispanics/Latino Americans and whites. However, survival rates for melanoma are lower among Hispanic men (79% vs. 87%) and women (88% vs. 92%).
- Hispanics/Latino Americans are less likely to smoke and drink alcohol, but are more likely to be poor, have fewer years of education and lack health insurance.
“The Hispanic/Latino population will benefit from the same approaches that are most important in reducing cancer risk in the general population — preventing and treating tobacco dependence, increasing access to immunization programs, high-quality cancer screening and appropriate follow-up care, increasing physical activity and maintaining a healthy body weight,” Vilma Cokkinides, PhD, director for risk factor surveillance at the American Cancer Society, said in a press release. “In addition, many Hispanics face barriers to receiving adequate, affordable health care that likely has a significant impact on prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer."
