Asian-Americans In California Dying From Cancer At Higher Rate Than Other Ethnicities, Report Finds

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 15 Apr 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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Asian-Americans in California are dying from cancer at a higher rate than any other group, according to a report by the state Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, the San Bernardino Sun reports. The "State of Asian American, Native Hawaiian Health in California Report" included data from 25 ethnic groups. The report found that more than 27% of Asian U.S. residents die of cancer, compared with about 23% of whites, 22% of blacks and 20% of Hispanics.

The report also found that:

• Koreans, Vietnamese and Chinese have high rates of liver cancer;
  
  
• about 32% of Hmong live under the federal poverty level;
  
  
• 33% of Koreans are uninsured; and
  
  
• Filipinos, Tongans and Samoans have high rates of obesity.
  

The report also indicated a high rate of post-traumatic stress disorder among Cambodians, although more data need to be collected.

The group plans to research the causes of each disparity (Baeder, San Bernardino Sun, 4/11).

The report is available online (.pdf).

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© 2009 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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