Factors Contributing to Cancer Health Disparities in the U.S. Hispanic Population

CancerCancer is a leading cause of death in the United States (U.S.) and across the globe. In the U.S., cancer is the second cause of death, behind only heart disease, but the first cause of death among Hispanic Americans (despite the ‘Hispanic Paradox’)Hispanic paradox. While recent advancements in cancerCancer diagnosis and treatment are now emerging, there are still inequities in cancer incidenceIncidenceand overall survivalOverall Survival comparing many different groups. Previous research has shown that cancerCancer health disparities often exist based on raceRace, ethnicityEthnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. BiologicalBiological factors include ethnic or racial ancestryAncestry, cytogeneticCytogeneticsor genomicGenome/genomic alterations, chronic infectionsInfections, and birthplace-based environmental exposuresEnvironmental exposure. The seemingly most impactful nonNon-biological-biologicalBiological factors include household incomeIncome, educational attainment, health insuranceHealth insurancestatus, marital statusMarriage status, and geographical location. Of particular importance, low levels of incomeIncomeand educationEducation, lack of private or public health insuranceHealth insurance, being unmarried, and ruralRural or border residency were associated with poor cancerCancer outcomes. The discrepancies in overall survivalOverall Survival remain even when controlling for differences in presentation and treatment among groups, representing a dire need for additional research to overcome these barriers. The main goal of this chapter is to outline the biologicalBiologicaland nonNon-biological-biologicalBiological factors that contribute to cancerCancer health disparities in the U.S. Hispanic population, and ways to overcome those barriers to allow health care equity for all. Cancer health disparities in the U.S. Hispanic population depend on a number of biological and non-biological factors. BiologicalBiologicalandNon-biological non-biological factors cooperate with one another in a manner that can significantly influence health outcomes for minority populations. Non-biologicalBiological (left) contributors to cancerCancer health disparities in the U.S. Hispanic population include lower socioeconomic status (SES)Socioeconomic Status (SES), reduced incomeIncome levels and social capitalSocial capital, marital statusMarriage status, differences in health care utilization, and lower levels of educationEducation. BiologicalBiological (right) contributors include racial/ethnic ancestryAncestry, genomicGenome/genomic alterations, chronic infectionsInfections, and environmental exposuresEnvironmental exposure.