Colorectal Cancer Prevention

Asian Americans have lower rates of colorectal (colon/rectal) cancer screening than any other ethnic group. While more than 40% of whites, African Americans, and Latinos 50 or older have had a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy within a five-year period, only 28% of Asian Americans in that age group have had either test. The risk of colorectal cancer increases with age and the average age at diagnosis is 72.

Colorectal cancer is one of the three most commonly diagnosed cancers in Asian American males and females, and the incidence of this disease is rising in this population. This trend follows a shifting pattern of cancer risk in a migrant population living in a more Westernized culture. Diets high in fat, protein, alcohol, and meat, as well as low in fiber and calcium have been shown to increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

Breast and Cervical Cancer

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in women, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Asian American and Pacific Islander women in the U.S. Since the 1980’s, breast cancer rates have risen 4.5% each year. In 2008, 226,510 women in the U.S. were diagnosed with breast cancer, and an estimated 40,580 women died of breast cancer. All women are at risk for breast cancer, and the risk increase as women get older, especially after age 40.

Breast cancer affects the Asian subpopulations disproportionately. The rate of breast cancer among some Asian subpopulations is almost double the rate of their Caucasian counterparts leading to higher morbidity and mortality. Moreover, screening rates among the population is much lower, adding to the increased disparity between Asian American women and Caucasians.

Prostate Cancer Screening & Awareness

According to the National Cancer Institute, 1 in every 8 men in the United States will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, and in 2021, 34,130 were estimated to die from this disease (1,210 deaths in Illinois). Racial and ethnic disparities in prostate cancer survival are well documented. In the US, African American men are 70% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and are more than twice as likely to die of the disease compared to Non-Hispanic, White men (American Cancer Society). Moreover, although Hispanic/Latino men are less likely to get screened for prostate cancer compared to White men, cancer of the prostate is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Hispanic/Latinos (21% as reported in the American Cancer Society).