May is Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Researchers from University of California, San Francisco, Eastern Michigan University and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services came together for a virtual discussion titled “Cancer Health Equity in AAPI Populations: Current Knowledge and Future Directions” on May 25th. The webinar was co-sponsored by Karmanos Cancer Institute’s Office of Cancer Health Equity and Community Engagement (OCHECE) and the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center.
Over 100 people from Michigan and across the country attended the online event in which Dr. Scarlett Lin Gomez, Dr. Tsu-Yin Wu and Dr. Lauren Spadafora shared data and provided context as to how the history of Asians in America, westernization, cultural factors, structural barriers and lack of awareness contribute to cancer disparities among the AAPI population in Michigan and in the United States.
Event attendees represented AAPI public health organizations from Michigan and across the country. The event was the one of the best attended OCHECE webinars to date.
Dr. Spadafora shared Michigan-specific cancer burden data that stated the most common diagnosed cancers were breast, colorectal and lung. The AAPI population experienced higher incidence rates of stomach and liver cancer than their white counterparts.
The most important insight from the presentation was the continued need for data that can illustrate the cancer burden on Asian Americans. As America continues to diversify, future data collection can help provide additional insights on the various Asian American communities.
Scarlett Lin Gomez, MPH, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at University of California, San Francisco. Tsu-Yin Wu, Ph.D. is Professor and Ph.D. Program Director in the School of Nursing at Eastern Michigan University. Lauren Spadafora, Ph.D. is a Cancer Epidemiologist for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
“Cancer Health Equity in AAPI Populations: Current Knowledge and Future Directions” was recorded can can be seen at our website. Visit our webinar library to watch a recording.