Report: Cancer is Leading Cause of Death Within Hispanics in U.S.

By Audrey Asistio, KSEE24 News

September 18, 2012 Updated Sep 18, 2012 at 7:25 PM PDT

Cancer has overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death within the Hispanic population. That's according to a new report released by the American Cancer Society.

The study found fewer Hispanics die from breast, lung, prostate and colorectal cancers than Caucasians and African Americans. But Hispanic mortality rates are higher for cancers of the stomach, liver, cervix and gallbladder. Hispanics are also more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage of disease for all types of cancer.

Experts say improved treatment and prevention of heart disease are what's causing the shift. They say the reason it's already happening among Hispanics is because the Hispanic population in the U.S. is made up of more young people. Cancer tends to kill people earlier in life than heart disease.

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