COUNTYWIDE : Vietnamese to Get Cancer Information

Representatives of the county chapter of the American Cancer Society will meet tonight with leaders of the Vietnamese community to spread education about cancer risks and help residents fight the disease.

Dr. Haun Le, a physician at UCI Medical Center and an American Cancer Society board member, will discuss the problems of cancer in the Vietnamese community.

The meeting will be held at the office of Assemblyman Curt Pringle, 12865 Main St., Garden Grove, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

According to Le, Vietnamese residents in recent years have suffered an increasing number of breast, colon and rectum, and prostate cancers. He said the increase may be linked to assimilation into the American culture and dietary habits that include consumption of red meat and fat.

Le, a native of Vietnam, said he hopes that public awareness can be raised and that volunteers will reach out into the community with information about dietary habits and the need for checkups.

About 300 business, religious and community leaders from the Vietnamese community have been invited to attend tonight’s meeting.

In addition to Le, speakers are to include Pringle (R-Garden Grove), Westminster Councilman Tony Lam and American Cancer Society Chairman Hal Massey.

Le said that cancer patients in the Vietnamese community hurt their chances for treatment because of late reporting of illnesses caused by a lack of knowledge about the disease.

Le said breast cancer has increased among Vietnamese women in Orange County because of hormonal changes caused by women having fewer children here. This makes it more important to get timely screenings, he said.

Stomach and liver cancer are more common health risks for people of Vietnamese heritage, Le said. But there has been a decline in liver cancer among Vietnamese in this country, probably because of better control of hepatitis, he said.

Le said lung cancer also appears reduced because fewer Vietnamese apparently smoke tobacco in this country.