Asian Americans urged to get screened early for cancer

Asian Americans should look for warning signs of cancer and get screened early, as it is the leading cause of death in the community, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.)

The three most prevalent cancer deaths among Asian men are lung, liver and colorectal cancers. Among Asian American women, it is lung, colorectal and breast cancers, the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center found.

"Asian Americans are the only racial and ethnic group in the US for whom cancer is the leading cause of death in men and women," a 2021 study published in the Oncologist called "Disparities in cancer care and the Asian American population found".

As the fastest growing ethnic group in the US, with a population of 24 million, the group makes up 7.2 percent of the population, according to the US Census Bureau.

Of the entire Asian population in the US, the largest group, 5.2 million come from China. The second largest group, 4.8 million percent, is Indian. Another 4.4 million are from the Philippines, 2.3 million from Vietnam, 2 million from Korea, and 1.6 million from Japan.

The study in the Oncologist added that "despite the clear mortality risk, Asian Americans are screened for cancers at lower rates than the majority of Americans" .

It found that there was a 75 percent screening rate for cervical cancer among Asians compared with 83 percent for white people. For breast cancer, there was a 64 percent screening rate among Asians and a 72 percent among their white counterparts.

Rates of screening among Asians for colorectal cancer were also lower than any other racial group, with 49 percent getting assessed, a 2021 CDC study found.

Research suggests that screening levels could be low, due to language barriers and cultural concerns over mainstream health care practices.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) a world-renowned cancer treatment and research institution, has locations throughout New York City, Long Island, New Jersey and Westchester County.

Dr Jun Mao, chief of integrative medicine service at MSKCC believes that those who have been diagnosed with cancer can benefit from a variety of treatments. That can include both Western medication and Eastern practices like acupuncture, which provide holistic benefits.

Mao told China Daily: "Western medication focuses on very specific effects of what that drug can deliver. But Eastern medicine, especially in the context of cancer treatment and survivorship, tends to provide more of a benefit. The treatments are more holistic, really acknowledging the mind and body and the relationship and interaction."

Between 1999 and 2018, breast cancer increased by 21 percent among the Asian American population, according to the CDC.

"Asian Americans have higher rates than most racial/ethnic groups for cancers with infectious etiologies, including liver, hepatitis B virus, uterine cervix, human papillomavirus, nasopharynx, Epstein-Barr virus and stomach, Helicobacter pylori," the study in The Oncologist said.

But the type of cancer that affects those of Asian descent varies widely, data shows.

Chinese and Laotian Americans are diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer 10 to 14 times more than their white counterparts, the American Association for Cancer Research found.

This type of cancer occurs from abnormal cell growths anywhere from a person's nose down to their throat. Warning signs are trouble breathing, speaking or hearing.

Korean Americans ages 35 to 54 and 55 to 69 have the highest diagnosis of stomach cancer among any racial group, the National Institutes of Health said. Gastric cancer is also common among Japanese Americans.

Internationally, researchers have found that stomach cancer is common in China and Japan. It increases if a diet consists of salted fish, smoked food and pickled vegetables. Fresh fruits and vegetables are advised.

Vietnamese and Cambodian American communities are diagnosed with a rate of cervical cancer that is five times greater than non-Hispanic white women, the CDC found.

To improve diagnosis and early treatment for cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends that people at risk age 45 and above be screened or get a colonoscopy to detect colon cancer.

Women at age 40 should get an annual mammogram or clinical breast exam for breast cancer. Those 55 to 75 are advised to get screened for lung cancer.

Women 21 to 65 should get a smear test to check for cervical cancer. Men age 50 and older should be screened for prostate cancer.

"Regular screening gives you the best chance of finding cancer early when it's small and before it has spread," ACS advises on its website.