Cancer Mortality Among Chinese in the United States1

Abstract

A total of 1,824 cancer deaths among the Chinese in California, Hawaii, and New York City, 1968–72, was examined against 96,635 Taiwanese dying from cancer for the corresponding years. Emphasis was placed on patterns of displacement by nativity between 1960 and 1970. Much of the transitional experiences were similar to those reported for Japanese and European migrants to the United States, such as the rise of cancers of the lung and colon in males. However, the upward displacement of cancers of the female breast and corpus uteri failed to occur among the Chinese. In general, the pattern of transition for Idai and Erdai was less apparent, compared with the mortality experiences of Issei and Nisei. Perhaps longer periods are needed to achieve full displacement of cancer risks in the advanced ages.