Hispanic Paradox: Higher Rates of Advanced Cancers Diagnosed, Longer Survival than Non-Hispanic Whites

A recent report by the Comparative Effectiveness Research on Cancer in Texas research group shows that more Hispanic Texans die from cancer than any other cause.

The research specifically documents cancer as the leading cause of death among Hispanic Texans under the age of 76, showing that only three percent of Hispanic Texans are older than 75.

In fact, findings show that the Texas Hispanic population has more than doubled since 1990. Texans of Hispanic ethnicity now make up close to 38 percent of the state's population, according to background information from the study.

Various findings based on data from the Texas Cancer Registry show that cancer trends may be higher among Hispanics than non-Hispanic whites in Texas based on certain disadvantages.

For instance, the study notes that Hispanic Texans may be less likely to be screened for breast or colon cancer. At the same time, Hispanics also showed lower rates of new cancer diagnoses for breast, lung and colon cancer.

The study also shows that less Hispanics had cancer diagnosed at treatable stages. For instance, most had breast cancer diagnosed at advanced stages that were difficult to treat at a 12 percent higher rate.

Cancers more common among Hispanics included stomach and liver cancer in men and liver and cervical cancers in women--all typically the result of untreated infections.

Yet the study showed that survival after a diagnosis of cancer was superior for Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic whites.

These findings, which are based on 10 years of data and the diagnoses of new cancer cases and 21 years of data regarding cancer deaths, note a rather puzzling contradiction.

Researchers question why there are higher rates of advanced cancers diagnosed in Hispanics, yet the death rates in the same population are lower.

The phenomenon, known as the Hispanic Paradox, is nothing new. Many Hispanic Americans tend to survive illness longer than white Americans despite other factors including greater income, education and access to health care.

A 2013 study led by John Ruiz, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of North Texas, Department of Psychology, also supports the existence of the much-debated Hispanic paradox.

The researchers collected information from previous health studies, to also find that Hispanic participants had an overall morality advantage.

Yet Ruiz also discussed other cultural factors that could possibly play an important factor in the paradox.

"Although the evidence is not yet in, there is speculation that factors that promote close social relationships may be important," explained Ruiz, via the Huffington Post. "For example, Hispanic cultural values such as simpatia (importance of displaying kindness and maintaining interpersonal harmony), familismo (importance of keeping warm family relationships), and personalismo (valuing and building warm relationships) may help to build strong social support itself, [which] is associated with better health and lower mortality risk."

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found via the Texas Public Health Journal.