Persistent and Emerging Cancer Health Disparities and Racism Impacting Asian Americans

Asian Americans comprise more than 30 national origins and 100 languages, with significant variation in historical context, immigration patterns, socioeconomic status, health behaviors, and access to care. The continuing practice of aggregating cancer statistics masks distinct disparities within specific Asian American ethnic populations, and further perpetuate the model minority stereotype. Cultural, language, and other access barriers have perpetuated disparities in these populations. Recent anti-Asian American discrimination and violence have shone a national spotlight on the consequential mental and physical harms.

This event will highlight research examining cancer incidence and mortality across Asian American ethnic groups and studies of lung cancer in Asian American women who have never smoked, discuss the implications of structural racism and discrimination on cancer research, and highlight opportunities in cancer interventions and policies to reduce disparities.