Latinos are the largest, fastest-growing, and youngest minority in the United States, and several differences have been found between Latinos and the non-Hispanic White population. The Hispanic/Latino identification refers to a wide variety of ethnicities, cultures, origins, and races. The diversity extends to nationality, customs, heritage, lifestyles, and socioeconomic status. Therefore, dissimilarities in the background and life experiences of different subgroups of the Latino population can influence a variety of health factors. One must be aware that generalizations/trends for the Hispanic/Latino classification may not hold true for all the people who categorize themselves as such.
The following information targeted towards Latinos and cancer may help you to understand liver cancer on broader epidemiological spectrum:
• The leading cancer sites for Hispanic men and women are the same as those for Whites:
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Prostrate, breast, lung, colon, and rectum
• Latinos are generally less likely to die from cancer than non-Hispanic Whites, but they have higher rates of cancers linked to infections, such as:
• Hispanics experience a 60% higher mortality rate for liver cancer than non-Hispanic Whites
• The incidence of primary liver cancer is approximately twice as high as for non-Latinos in the same area
• Death rates due to cancer of the liver and intrahepatic bile duct in Hispanic males and females, respectively, were 11.3 and 5.1 per 100,000 compared to 6.8 and 2.9 per 100,000 for their White counterparts
• Age-adjusted US mortality rates of all ages and both sexes from 2006 were 8.02 in Hispanics, and 4.59 in non-Hispanic Whites
• Rates of primary liver cancer seem to be especially high among Mexican Americans in TX, even when compared to Latinos in CA or other regions
• From 2002-2006 the median age at death for liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer was 70 years of age
• While Latinos represent roughly 12% of the population, they make up 25% of the Nation’s uninsured, and are three times less likely to have consistent source of medical care
This data was compiled from various other organizations. The following links provide more detailed information related to race/ethnicity, specifically tailored towards the Latino population:
• Intercultural Cancer Council: Hispanics/Latinos & Cancer
• Medline Plus: For Hispanics, a Unique Cancer Profile Emerges
• HRSA Office of Minority Health and Bureau of Primary Health Care: The Provider’s Guide to Quality and Culture:
Geographical shading maps, data tables and charts, and graphical representations can be found on the following websites:
• National Cancer Institute: Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)
• American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts and Figures for Hispanics/Latinos in 2006-2008
