Cancer Prevalence

Cancer is a leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Overall, AI/ANs face inequities in cancer prevention and control and have not seen the same level of progress as non-Hispanic whites over the past decades. In many regions, AI/AN cancer rates are significantly higher than rates of non-Hispanic whites, with stagnant or increasing rates for lung, colorectal, and breast cancers.

Cancer prevalence, incidence, and mortality are important indicators of health status for AI/AN populations. AI/AN cancer incidence and mortality rates vary greatly across regions and genders.

Cancer Risk Reduction in indian country

• Disparities in Cancer Mortality and Incidence Among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States
• Top Cancers in Indian Country, National Native Network Webinar by Dr. David Espey 2014 (PDF)
• CDC Interactive Cancer Atlas
  

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among AI/ANs. Lung cancer incidence and mortality rates are highest in the Northern Plains and Alaska and lowest in the Southwest. Northern Plains women are over two times as likely to die of lung cancer as non-Hispanic whites. Northern Plains men are 1.71 times as likely to die of lung cancer as non-Hispanic whites. Alaska Native men are almost 1.5 times as likely to die of lung cancer as non-Hispanic whites. Southwest AI men and women are one-third as likely to die of lung cancer as non-Hispanic whites.

Cancer Risk Reduction: Lung Cancer

• Lung Cancer Deaths Among American Indians and Alaska Natives
• Lung Cancer Burden Among American Indians and Alaska Natives, National Native Network Webinar by Dr. Micheal J. Underwood 2014 (PDF)
• How Tobacco Impacts Cancer in American Indian Communities, National Native Network Webinar by Kris Rhodes 2014 (PDF)

Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among AI/AN men and third among women. Alaska Native men are twice as likely as white men to be diagnosed with and die of CRC. Alaska Native women are almost 2.5 times as likely as non-Hispanic white women to be diagnosed with and die of the disease.

Cancer risk reduction: coloRectal Cancer

• Myths and Facts about Colorectal Cancer | From Great Plains Tribal Leaders Health Board
• Geographic Variation in Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Mortality, Age of Onset, and Stage at Diagnosis Among American Indian and Alaska Native People
• 80 by 2018 Introductory Packet for Coalitions 

Cervical cancer

Northern Plains women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4.15 times as likely as White women to die of the disease.

Cancer risk reduction: cervical cancer and HPV

• HPV and Cervical Cancer among American Indian and Alaska Native Women, National Native Network Webinar by Meg Watson 2014 (PDF)
• Cervical Cancer Incidence and Mortality Among American Indian and Alaska Native Women

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of mortality among AI/ANs. Over the past decade, breast cancer death rates decreased significantly among white women yet regional and national AI/AN rates were unchanged. AI/AN women continue to have worse survival rates than White women.

cancer risk reduction: Breast Cancer

• The Pink Fund:  90-Day non-medical cost-of-living expenses for breast cancer patients in active treatment
• Breast Cancer in Indian Country, National Native Network Webinar by Dr. Arica White and Jennifer Boehm 2014 (PDF)
• Breast Cancer Mortality Among American Indian and Alaska Native Women

Liver cancer

Overall, AI/AN men and women are 2.12 and 2.84 times as likely to die of liver cancer as white men and women, respectively. Northern Plains women were 3.25 times as likely to die of the disease.

cancer risk reduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma

• Disparities in Cancer Mortality and Incidence Among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States

AI/AN cancer surveillance data is often limited by small AI/AN population sample sizes, data or population aggregation in national and regional datasets, and lack of culturally appropriate survey methods. Widespread racial misclassification in State Cancer Registries results in underestimation of AI/AN cancer burden. However, these limitations can be reduced through collaborative surveillance efforts among tribal, state, and federal agencies, including Cancer Registry data linkages, using larger AI/AN population sample sizes or oversampling in surveys, use of culturally appropriate survey methods, and development of strong regional and tribal-specific datasets.

Many AI/ANs have high rates of smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, and low rates of cancer screening and consumption of fruits and vegetables. These contributing factors increase cancer risk and form the basis of “winnable battles” that tribal health systems and programs may tackle. Learn more about Cancer Prevention.