Cancer Incidence & Mortality Statistics and Trends

Many of the available cancer statistics are not yet collected. Therefore, the data below do not always reflect individual immigrant groups covered by CANIMP.

PROSTATE CANCER

African-American and/or Caribbean

• Black men in the US have the highest reported rate of prostate cancer worldwide.
• According to SEER data, the incidence rate among black men (180.6 per 100,000) is significantly higher than whites (134.7). ·
• Black men in the US die from prostate cancer 2.3 times more often than white.
• According to the NYS Cancer Registry, New York City experiences an even greater gap in the incidence rates of prostate cancer between black and white males (152.4 versus 94.3 per 100,000). ·
• Consistent with national data, New York City black males also die twice as often from the disease than their white counterparts.

Latinos

• According to SEER data for the period between 1988-1992, Latinos had a slightly lower incidence of prostate cancer than whites (89.0 versus 134.7 per 100,000). However, Latinos were almost twice as likely to die from the disease.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islander

• Although Chinese and Koreans have relatively low rates of prostate cancer in comparison to other ethnic groups, the longer they live in the US and adopt its lifestyle and nutrition (increased consumption of animal fat), the higher the risk.

BREAST CANCER

African-American, Caribbean

• Breast cancer is, after lung cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death among black women.
• Although black women in New York City have a lower incidence rate of breast cancer than white women (81.8 versus 105.8 per 100,000), black women are dying more frequently from this disease (34% versus 27%). These numbers highlight health disparities and limited access to medical care that prevent black women from being screened regularly to increase their survivability.
• Obesity is associated with an increased risk of several chronic diseases, including breast cancer. In 1998, 64% of black women were considered overweight. ·
• In 1997, African-American women aged 50 and older who reported receiving a mammogram within two years prior to questioning had increased to 76.1%.

Latinos

• According to the NCHS BRFSS report that compared non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Black and women of Hispanic origin for mammography rates, women of Hispanic origin had the lowest mammography use reported at every age category. ·
• The average time between mammography results and follow-up was 7 weeks for Hispanic women, compared with 4 weeks for non-Hispanic White women.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

• Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related mortality among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) women. Yet, AAPI women have the lowest cancer screening and early detection rates of all ethnic groups. ·
• Only AAPIs show no declines in their 1990-95 breast cancer mortality rate trends, while all other racial/ethnic groups showed significant declines.

CERVICAL CANCER

African-American and/or Caribbean

• Compared with the national SEER rates, black US-born and Haitian women living in Brooklyn, NY had higher rates of invasive cervical cancer than all other ethnic groups.
• Invasive cervical cancer was diagnosed in more advanced stages in Haitian and English-speaking Caribbean immigrants than in US born black women in Brooklyn, NY.
• Late stage cervical cancer diagnoses decrease from 7.2% to 5.5% in whites between 1976-1990, while for black women it increased from 8.7% to 13.6% during the same period.

Latinos

• Latino women are less likely to be aware of Pap tests.
• Cervical cancer mortality rates for Latino women have increased an average of .2% per year.

Asian American and Pacific Islanders

• Incidence rates among AAPI women have increased an average of +1.3% per year.
• Only 67.8% of AAPI women have ever had a Pap Smear. Only 58.4% have had one within the previous year. (CIS) ·
• Mortality rates from cervical cancer were 4% greater for Chinese women than for whites.
• Cervical cancer is the leading type of cancer affecting Korean women.

LUNG CANCER

African-American and/or Caribbean

• Lung cancer is the leading cause of death for both black men and women.
• African-American men are 50% more likely to develop lung cancer than white men, and also have a higher mortality rate from lung cancer than white men. ·
• From 1991 to 1997, the prevalence of current cigarette smoking among all high school students increased 32%.
• Current cigarette smoking increased 80% among black students, versus 28% among white students.

Latino

• Overall, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Latinos.
• Lung cancer deaths are three times higher for Latino men than for the women.
• · Of all ethnic/racial groups in NYC, Hispanic men and women less than 40 years old are the highest users of tobacco.
• The smoking prevalence among NYC Spanish-speaking females over 40 years is substantially higher than rates in Spanish-speaking women over 40 nationwide.
• From 1991 to 1997, the prevalence of current cigarette smoking among high school student increased 32%.
• Current cigarette smoking increased 34% among Hispanic students, versus 28% among white students.

Asian American and Pacific Islanders

• The largest proortion of tobacco billboards are posted in AAPI communities. The largest tobacco displays are also placed in Asian-American stores.
• According to SEER incidence data, between 1988-1992, lung cancer was the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Korean men.