Cancer

Cancers occur when certain body cells don't function right, divide uncontrollably, and produce too much tissue, resulting in a tumor. Cancerous tumors then invade healthy, normal functioning cells. Hispanic Americans/Latinos have a lower rate of new cancer cases and lower death rates for all cancers combined, but a higher burden of cancers of the stomach, liver, and cervix than Whites. There are gaps in access to and use of cancer screening programs among Hispanic Americans/Latinos. Death rates from cancers of the breast and cervix, all of which can be found early by screening, decreased less among Hispanic Americans/Latinas than among non-Hispanics.