Cancer

Cancer Resources

AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKAN NATIVE CANCER STATISTICS

• Cancer is the second leading cause of death for all American Indians and Alaska Natives 45 years of age and over.

• Cancer is the leading cause of death for Alaska Native Women.

• Cancer is the third leading cause of death for all American Indian and Alaska Natives of all ages.

• American Indians and Alaska Natives have the poorest survival from most cancer sites in comparison with other racial and ethnic groups in the US (e.g. African American, White, Hispanic, Asian American and Pacific Islander).

• Gall bladder cancer is more commonly diagnosed among American Indians from the southwestern region of the US than another minority group.

• Alaska Native women have the highest incidence of mortality from colorectal cancer of any other racial and ethnic group in the US.

• American Indians have the poorest survival from lung cancer of another other US racial or ethnic group.

• American Indians have very high rates of exposure to cancer risk factors, particularly cigarette smoking.
  
  
  • Over 53%Cancer is the second leading cause of death for all American Indians and Alaska Natives 45 years of age and over.
  • Cancer is the leading cause of death for Alaska Native Women.
  • Cancer is the third leading cause of death for all American Indian and Alaska Natives of all ages.
  • American Indians and Alaska Natives have the poorest survival from most cancer sites in comparison with other racial and ethnic groups in the US (e.g. African American, White, Hispanic, Asian American and Pacific Islander).
  • Gall bladder cancer is more commonly diagnosed among American Indians from the southwestern region of the US than another minority group.
  • Alaska Native women have the highest incidence of mortality from colorectal cancer of any other racial and ethnic group in the US.
  • American Indians have the poorest survival from lung cancer of another other US racial or ethnic group.
  • American Indians have very high rates of exposure to cancer risk factors, particularly cigarette smoking.
  • of American Indian men and 33% of American Indian women are cigarette smokers.
  • In some communities the smoking rate is as high as 73% total (tribal nation in north central states).
  • American Indians have a 42 % tobacco usage rate, the highest of all minority groups in the US.

The death rate among American Indians due to tobacco abuse is twice that of the US population. An average of 2 out of every 5 American Indian smokers die of tobacco abuse.

Alaska Native mean nd women each have the highest incidence rate of kidney cancer of any other racial group in the US.

Data sources are from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program, American Cancer Society, US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the National Cancer Institute Document of the Cancer RESearch Needs of AMerican Indians and Alaska Natives in the US. :Regional Differences within the Indian Health Service 1989-1993; 1997 (IHS Pub. No. 97-615-23) according to the Inter-cultural Cancer Council

More statistics are needed to effectively evaluate how the American Indian/ Alaska Native population is impacted by cancer. The problems for collecting accurate data on American Indians and Alaska Natives is detailed in the following study:

"Issues in Cancer Data and Surveillance for American Indian and Alaska Native Populations" by Linda Burhansstipanov, DrPH; James W. Hampton, MD; Charles L. Wiggins, PhD Journal of Registry Management November 1999, Volume 25, Number 4.

To obtain a copy please write:
National Cancer Registrars Association, PO Box 15945-295, Lenexa, KS 66285, phone: 913-438-6272