CANCER WATCH
Cancer kills more American women than any other disease. It is expected to be the leading cause of death among all Americans by the year 2000. Here is a snapshot of cancer incidence and death rates in Los Angeles County, taken from the county’s first comprehensive cancer summary. The study, release in June by researchers at the Norris Cancer Center at USC, covers all cancer cases reported in the country between 1972 and 1987 and analyzes them by the patient’s race-ethnicity, sex and age.
Incidence Rate Per 100,000
Males Females Anglo 397 348 Latino 285 252 Black 465 307 Chinese 251 203 Japanese 278 237
Mortality Rate per 100,000
Males Females Anglo 203 144 Latino 156 115 Black 281 162 Chinese 156 100 Japanese 155 100
Top 10 Cancer Sites by Race
Age-adjusted per 100,000 ANGLO Anglo men have a bladder cancer rate twice that of other groups. Known risk factors include smoking and occupational exposure to chemicals called arylamines. Anglo men and women have the highest rate of malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Death rates are low compared to incidence, since most cases are caught early.
Anglo women have the highest rates of breast cancer in the county, a trend consistent with the high rates seen generally in Western industrialized countries. Their high risk is traced primarily ton reproductive and family history. Other factors, including diet, alcohol consumption and hormone therapy, are under study.
Males Females Lung 76.7 Breast 103.7 prostate 70.5 Lung 33.7 Colon 40.1 Endometrium 32.2 Bladder 31.0 Colon 31.6 Rectum 19.3 Ovary 16.6 Oral 17.8 Malignant Melanoma 12.9 Malignant 16.2 Rectum 12.4 Melanoma Leukemia 12.7 Invasive Cervix 9.5 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 12.6 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 9.4 Stomach 11.4 Bladder 8.1
LATINO
Latino men and women have among the lowest lung cancer rates in the county as a result of relatively low smoking rates.
Invasive cancer of the cervix is one of the few cancers for which Latinas, especially immigrants, show the highest risk. The disease is believed to be caused by chronic infection with certain viruses. It can be detected through regular use of the Pap test.
Males Females Prostate 59.0 Breast 61.2 Lung 43.2 Invasive Cervix 21.7 Colon 23.2 Colon 18.1 Stomach 19.3 Lung 17.5 Bladder 15.1 Endometrium 17.3 Rectum 14.6 Ovary 12.7 Leukemia 10.1 Stomach 10.3 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 9.8 Rectum 8.3 Kidney 9.7 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 7.7 Oral 9.6 Pancreas 7.3
BLACK The prostate cancer rate among blacks is higher than that of any other cancer in the county, 60% higher than in Anglos, whose rate is 80% higher than that of Asians. The reason is unknown, though some researchers wonder whether dietary fat intake is a factor.
Black women are less likely than Anglo women to develop cancer but they are more likely to die of it -- a fact that some researchers attribute to poor access to screening and prevention programs and to regular health care. Blacks have the highest rates of cancer of the esophagus, larynx and lungs. All can be attributed to smoking and heavy drinking.
Males Females Prostate 115.5 Breast 81.4 Lung 108.0 Colon 36.5 Colon 41.5 Lung 31.4 Stomach 20.4 Invasive Cervix 17.0 Oral 18.5 Endometrium 15.2 Rectum 16.7 Rectum 11.5 Bladder 15.8 Ovary 11.1 Esophagus 14.1 Pancreas 10.1 Pancreas 14.1 Stomach 9.2 Larynx 11.0 Leukemia 7.4
CHINESE Chinese-American men have a high risk of liver cancer, which is relatively rare in the county. The major cause is chronic infection with hepatitis B virus, which can be passed from one generation to the next. Smoking, alcohol also may be factors.
Chinese-Americans have a rate of cancer of the nasopharynx, a part of the pharynx behind the nasal passage, that is 10 times higher than other groups. The major risk factor is consumption of Cantonese salted fish.
Males Females Lung 51.3 Breast 48.8 Colon 34.3 Lung 19.9 Prostate 28.4 Colon 19.6 Rectum 17.9 Invasive Cervix 12.4 Liver 6.3 Rectum 11.1 Stomach 15.0 Ovary 10.1 Bladder 13.0 Stomach 9.3 Nasopharynx 8.6 Endometrium 8.3 Pancreas 6.1 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 7.0 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 6.0 Liver 6.0
JAPANESE Japanese-Americans have a rate of stomach cancer twice that of other groups. In Japan, the rate is the highest in the world. Salt consumption appears to be a major risk factor for stomach cancer, which is declining worldwide because of improved methods of food preservation. The relatively high risk of colon cancer among Japanese-American is surprising because Japanese in Japan have some of the lowest rates in the world. Diet appears to be a factor. The rectal cancer rate among Japanese-Americans is the highest in the county. Alcohol consumption and diet may be factors.
Males Females Lung 42.7 Breast 64.5 Stomach 41.0 Colon 29.0 Colon 40.4 Stomach 18.0 Prostate 38.6 Endometrium 16.3 Rectum 25.3 Rectum 16.0 Bladder 12.6 Lung 15.3 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 10.3 Ovary 11.0 Pancreas 10.3 Pancreas 9.5 Leukemia 8.5 Invasive Cervix, 6.6 thyroid and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
