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Cancer is the leading cause of death for Hispanic and Latino people in the United States. Compared to members of other races and ethnicities, Hispanic and Latino people have higher rates of getting and dying from some kinds of cancer.
However, Hispanic people have the lowest rates of getting and dying from lung cancer.
Data source: United States Cancer Statistics: Data Visualizations.
Compared to non-Hispanic White people in the United States, Hispanic or Latino people generally find it harder to get medical care. They often face the following barriers:
Despite these challenges, a recent CDC study found that Hispanic people are equally as likely to receive a colorectal cancer screening test, and more likely to receive a mammogram or Pap test, as non-Hispanic White people (after statistical adjustment).
Note: The comparisons above may be between race categories only or between race and ethnicity (non-Hispanic or Hispanic) categories.
To help reduce health disparities, the public health community can work to improve health literacy, address barriers to care, and provide language assistance to people who need it. These steps can help Hispanic or Latino people use preventive health services, including cancer screenings. Health literacy is the ability to find, understand, and use information and services for health-related decisions and actions. Two-thirds of Hispanic people in the United States have limited health literacy.
Health care organizations can also help by developing culturally relevant health messages that encourage Hispanic or Latino people to get cancer screenings. Community health workers can help people in minority communities get the health care they need. Trained interpreters and bilingual health care providers can improve the quality of care for people who speak Spanish.
Note: The Office of Management and Budget defines a Hispanic or Latino person as a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
Learn how to lower your cancer risk and what CDC is doing to prevent and control cancer.
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