Risks for Cancer Among Latinos Varies According to National Origin

U.S. Latinos have lower rates of several cancers that are higher in affluent, industrialized countries where tobacco use, obesity, and physical inactivity may be more prevalent.

The American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Cancer Institute, and North American Association of Central Cancer Registries collaborate annually to provide U.S. cancer information, this year featuring the first comprehensive compilation of cancer information for U.S. Latinos.


This annual report is based on 90% of the U.S. Latino population, the most comprehensive coverage of cancer information for this large and rapidly growing ethnic group.

Latinos had lower incidence rates than non-Hispanic white or non-Hispanic black populations for the majority of specific cancer sites, including lung, colon and rectum, breast, and prostate cancers. Incidence rates that were higher in Latinos than in non-Hispanic white populations included cancers of the stomach and liver in both males and females and myeloma and cervical cancer in Latinas.

The proportion of new site-specific cancer cases, in relation to all cancer cases, varied among 4 Latino groups, suggesting that risks may be different for Latinos of different origin and that cancer risks may not be generalizable from one Latino group to another based on Hispanic ethnicity alone.