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Did You Know?: Minority Health
Source: American Cancer Society, April 2003

The burden of cancer on some segments of the US population is heavier than on others. It's an issue year-round, but one that gets special attention this time of year.

April 20-26, 2003, is National Minority Cancer Awareness Week. It's a time when cancer and community groups focus on increasing awareness about the importance of cancer early detection and prevention among racial and ethnic minority groups and educate them about available resources that can save lives.

How much do you know about the health challenges facing some Americans? Take the following quiz to find out:

1. African Americans are more likely to develop and die from cancer than people of any other racial or ethnic group.

a. True
b. False

2. Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in the US and the least likely to have a regular source for health care.

a. True
b. False

3. Native Americans have the lowest five-year cancer survival rate of any ethnic group.

a. True
b. False

4. Cervical cancer incidence rates for Vietnamese women are five times higher than rates for white women.

a. True
b. False

5. In the US, 41.2 million people under 65 do not have health insurance.

a. True
b. False

Answers:
1. True
2. True
3. True
4. True
5. True

To find out more about National Minority Cancer Awareness Week and to get the latest cancer information, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.