Cancer is the leading cause of death among Latinos in the United States. This statistic is largely driven by lung malignancies in men and breast tumors in women.
This year alone, Latinos in the United States will be diagnosed with 125,900 new cases of cancer and 37,800 deaths from cancer. Among men, lung tumors will account for 1 in 6 cancer deaths. In women, breast cancer malignancies will account for 16% of cancer deaths.
According to the American Cancer Society, death rates are declining for both heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S., and cancer, the second leading cause of death in the U.S. However, cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death in Hispanics.
Researchers attribute cancer as the leading cause of death in Hispanics to their young age structure.
82% of Latinos in the United States are younger than 50 years old. In comparison, only 60% of white people are under 50 years old.
Latinos are less likely to be diagnosed with the four most common cancers in the U.S. which are prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer.
Latinos conversely are more likely to be diagnosed with tumors linked to infectious disease including cancers of the stomach, liver and cervix.
Latino women will experience 67,000 new cancer cases this year. About 17,000 Latino women will succumb to cancer generally from breast cancer, lung cancer or colorectal cancer.
Latino men are estimated to be diagnosed 58,400 new cancer cases this year and have 19,900 deaths due to cancer this year.
