Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos

Abstract

Cancer is the second leading cause of death among non-Hispanic white (NHW) men and women in the United States—but is the leading cause of death among Latinos (American Cancer Society, Cancer facts and figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2018–2020. American Cancer Society, Inc., Atlanta, 2018). The US Latino population was 60.6 million in 2019, as one of the largest, youngest, and fastest growing minority groups in the United States, its population will nearly double by 2060, making up 27.5% of the projected US population (Vespa et al., Demographic turning points for the United States: population projections for 2020 to 2060. U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC. Report No.: P25-1144. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2020/demo/p25-1144.html. Accessed 25 Aug 2021, 2020; Noe-Bustamante et al., Hispanic population surpassed 60 million in 2019, but growth has slowed. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/07/07/u-s-hispanic-population-surpassed-60-million-in-2019-but-growth-has-slowed/. Accessed 28 Aug 2021, 2020). Thus, advancing the science of cancer in Latinos has become an imperative for the nation, as Latinos will contribute a significant portion to its future cancer burden.