Cambodian cancer incidence rates in California and Washington, 1998–2002

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Among the many diverse Asian ethnic groups living in the US, Cambodian immigrants comprise a small fraction (1.8%) of the total Asian population. Because of their small numbers, Cambodian vital statistics are often combined into Southeast Asian (SA) cancer data consisting of Vietnamese, Thais, Laotians, and Hmong. METHODS. The 2000 Census counts were used for 2 Cambodian populations, Cambodians alone and Cambodians alone and in combination with any other racial/ethnic group for California and for Seattle (Puget Sound area), Washington. Then the cancer incidence rates were calculated using cancer cases from the California and Puget Sound cancer registries between 1998–2002. The 1998–2002 annual age‐adjusted incidence rates, upper bound rates (based on the Cambodian alone population), lower bound rates (based on the Cambodians alone or in combination population) are reported and compared with the rates in the non‐Hispanic White (NHW) population in these regions. RESULTS. The top 5 cancers in Cambodian males are lung and bronchus, liver, prostate, colorectal, and stomach cancers. The sites where the rates are higher in male Cambodians than NHW males are (in ascending rank) nasopharynx, liver, stomach, myeloma, and lung and bronchus. The top 5 cancers for female Cambodians are breast, lung, colon and rectum, cervix, and thyroid. The sites where female rates are greater than NHW female rates are (in ascending rank) nasopharynx, liver, stomach, cervix uteri, oral cavity, and thyroid. CONCLUSIONS. The challenges to address the health issues of Cambodians are complicated by historical events that caused their emigration to the US. Many of the immigrants are survivors of the holocaust in Cambodia. Health programs for Cambodians must deal with the consequences of these issues as well as cultural issues of language and religion in helping Cambodians to reduce their cancer disparities. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.

Proportionate cancer incidence in the Laotian population of California, 1988–2006

“…The results of the present analysis were similar to findings reported previously for other Asian subgroups [21][22][23]. Laotians living in California are nearly 13 and 15 times more likely to be diagnosed with liver cancer and NPC, respectively, than members of the California general population.…”

Understanding HPV Vaccine Uptake Among Cambodian American Girls

“…The incidence rate among Cambodian women is twice the incidence rate among non-Hispanic white women (15.0 versus 7.7 per 100,000) [6]. It is important to characterize HPV vaccine uptake in populations that experience cervical cancer disparities because they stand to benefit the most from widespread HPV vaccine coverage.…”

Protecting our Khmer daughters: ghosts of the past, uncertain futures, and the human papillomavirus vaccine

“…Southeast Asian women have higher cervical cancer incidence rates than any other ethnic group, and the incidence among Cambodians is twice the incidence among non-Hispanic whites (15.0 versus 7.7 per 100,000) (Miller et al 2008; Kem and Chu 2007; Saraiya et al 2007). Persistent HPV infection, primarily HPV types 16 and 18, has been shown to cause almost all cervical cancers (Schiffman and Castle 2003).…”

“…These refugees make up 1.8% of the US Asian population, the majority of whom have resettled in California, Washington, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts (Kem and Chu 2007). Most Cambodians traveled to the United States from Thai refugee camps where they spent from one to ten years and where they experienced hunger and hardship following the Khmer Rouge genocide (1975–1979) (Kiernan 2004; Becker 2002).…”

“…Those who survived, like Chantou, witnessed the deaths of their family members and often experienced starvation, exhaustion, relocation, forced labor, and ‘re-education’ (Kiernan 1996; Chandler 1991). This history of suffering impacted reception of Cambodians into the United States and their often troubling integration into the US medical system (Ong 1995; Mueke 1995; Pickwell 1999), including participation in cervical cancer screening programs (Taylor et al 2002; Kem and Chu 2007). …”