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Cancer Mortality Among Polynesians
A study by Epidemiology Program Director Loic Le Marchand and collaborating scientists reports that Native Hawaiians, Maoris and other Polynesians die at higher rates from cancer compared to whites of European ancestry who settled in the Pacific islands. The study will be published in The Lancet Oncology.
The researchers studied cancer incidence, survival, and mortality across Polynesian populations scattered across a vast triangle in the Pacific from Hawai'i in the north, to Easter Island in the east, and New Zealand in the south.
The studies found that Native Hawaiians, Maoris, and Pacific Islanders have higher overall cancer mortality rates than whites living in the same areas. Native Hawaiians smoke slightly more than whites, but have a significantly higher risk of getting lung cancer for the same smoking history, suggesting they are more susceptible to the carcinogenic properties of cigarette smoke.
“Education regarding cancer screening programs, diet and smoking could help address this problem,” says Le Marchand. “With these data, we can help advocate for more funding to support culturally appropriate programs, including education and better health care to help individuals quit smoking or make cancer treatments more available to those who need it. These would lower the cancer burden in the Polynesian communities.”