Latina? Your Cancer Profile

Every three years the American Cancer Society releases a report entitled "Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos". The report highlights past statistics and predicts trends for the future. The 2009 through 2011 report provides the following information:

• An estimated 98,900 new cancer cases will be diagnosed in Latinos in 2009. Colorectal cancer is estimated as the second-most common cancer in men and women.

• An estimated 18,800 Latinos are expected to die from cancer in 2009. In women, the top two estimated causes are breast and lung cancer.

• The Latino population has lower death rates for all cancers combined but have higher rates of cancers of the stomach, cervix, liver and gallbladder. There is also a higher incidence of acute lymphocytic leukemia.

• Survival rates are similar to those of non-Latinos, except for melanoma, where survival rates in Latinos is lower (79 percent in men and 88 percent in women) versus non-Latinos (87 percent in men and 92 percent in women).

• Latinos are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage and are more likely to be poor, have fewer years of education and lack health insurance. However, they are also less likely to smoke or drink alcohol.

According to Vilma Cokkinides, Ph.D., American Cancer Society director for risk factor surveillance, The Latino population in the US can benefit from the same approaches that are most successful in reducing cancer risk in non-Latino populations - quitting smoking, High-SPF sunscreen, physical activity, healthy diet and maintaining a healthy body weight.

The biggest barrier that Latinos face is a lack of affordable, preventative healthcare. However, regular physical exams and screening tests - especially mammograms and pap smears - are the best defense in the war against cancer.