Cancer Incidence in American Indians and Alaska Natives

A supplement to Cancer

Unique circumstances of culture, location, history, and health care produce unique patterns of cancer occurrence among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) in the United States. Many AI/AN live on reservation lands or in remote rural areas, and their primary health care is provided by a tribally operated health program or the Indian Health Service. Rural and urban AI/AN alike experience greater poverty, lower levels of education, and poorer housing conditions than does the general U.S. population.

The special collection of papers in this supplement uses cancer incidence data from CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program, enhanced by record linkages and geographic factors to improve racial classification. Ten of the articles focus on cancers in specific anatomic sites. The remaining six articles give an overview of cancer in AI/AN, describe cancer in young adult AI/AN, explain the methods used to improve data quality, and describe risk factors and screening practices in AI/AN using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. Since cancer incidence in this population is affected by geographic regional patterns, each article presents data by region and for all regions combined.

We hope these reports will help define cancer control priorities for AI/AN and guide the development of research agendas to clarify some of the perplexing regional patterns.

Articles in Supplement

1. Cobb N, Wingo PA, Edwards BK. Introduction to the supplement on cancer in the American Indian and Alaska Native populations in the United States. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1113–1116.
2. Kaur JS, Hampton JW. Editorial: Cancer in American Indian and Alaska Native populations continues to threaten an aging population: the need for tribal, state and federal action. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1117–1119.
3. Espey DK, Wiggins CL, Jim MA, Miller BA, Johnson CJ, Becker TM. Methods for improving cancer surveillance data in American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1120–1130.
4. Steele CB, Cardinez CJ, Richardson LC, Tom-Orme L, Shaw KM. Surveillance for health behaviors of American Indians and Alaska Natives—findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2000–2006. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1131–1141.
   supplementary table 1 • supplementary table 2 • supplementary table 3
5. Wiggins CL, Espey DK, Wingo PA, Kaur JS, Wilson RT, Swan J, Miller BA, Jim MA, Kelly JJ, Lanier AP. Cancer among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States, 1999–2004. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1142–1152.
   supplementary table
6. Weir HK, Jim MA, Marrett LD, Fairley T. Cancer in American Indian and Alaska Native young adults (ages 20–44 years): US, 1999–2004. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1153–1167.
   supplementary table
7. Bliss A, Cobb N, Solomon T, Cravatt K, Jim MA, Marshall L, Campbell J. Lung cancer incidence among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States, 1999–2004. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1168–1178.
8. Perdue DG, Perkins C, Jackson-Thompson J, Coughlin SS, Ahmed F, Haverkamp DS, Jim MA. Regional differences in colorectal cancer incidence, stage, and subsite among American Indians and Alaska Natives, 1999–2004. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1179–1190.
9. Wingo PA, King J, Swan J, Coughlin SS, Kaur JS, Erb-Alvarez JA, Jackson-Thompson J, Arambula Solomon TG. Breast cancer incidence among American Indian and Alaska Native women: US, 1999–2004. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1191–1202.
10. Henderson JA, Espey DK, Jim MA, German RR, Shaw KM, Hoffman RM. Prostate cancer incidence among American Indian and Alaska Native men, US, 1999–2004. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1203–1212.
11. Wilson RT, Richardson LC, Kelly JJ, Kaur J, Jim MA, Lanier AP. Cancers of the urinary tract among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States, 1999–2004. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1213–1224.
12. Wiggins CL, Perdue DG, Henderson JA, Bruce MG, Lanier AP, Kelley JJ, Seals BF, Espey DK. Gastric cancer among American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States, 1999–2004. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1225–1233.
13. Becker TM, Espey DK, Lawson HW, Saraiya M, Jim MA, Waxman AG. Regional differences in cervical cancer incidence among American Indians and Alaska Natives, 1999–2004. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1234–1243.
14. Jim MA, Perdue DG, Richardson LC, Espey DK, Redd JT, Martin HJ, Kwong SL, Kelly JJ, Henderson JA, Ahmed F. Primary liver cancer incidence among American Indians and Alaska Natives, US, 1999–2004. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1244–1255.
15. Reichman ME, Kelly JJ, Kosary CL, Coughlin SS, Jim MA, Lanier AP. Incidence of cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx among American Indians and Alaska Natives, 1999–2004. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1256–1265.
16. Lemrow SM, Perdue DG, Stewart SL, Richardson LC, Jim MA, French HT, Swan J, Edwards BK, Wiggins C, Dickie L, Espey DK. Gallbladder cancer incidence among American Indians and Alaska Natives, US, 1999–2004. Cancer 2008;113(S5):1266–1273.