A recent report highlights the significant cancer disparities affecting Alaska Native individuals compared to White populations in the United States. According to Dr. Anusiyanthan I. Mariampillai, a medical oncologist at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, about 4 in 10 Alaska Native men and 5 in 10 Alaska Native women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
The American Cancer Society found that overall cancer mortality among Native American and Alaska Native individuals is 18% higher than among White individuals, despite similar cancer incidence rates. Notably, Alaska Natives have much higher rates of lung, colorectal, liver, stomach, and kidney cancers compared to non-Hispanic White individuals.
Dr. Mariampillai explains that these disparities stem from a combination of factors, including history, culture, genetics, geographic location, accessibility to care, lifestyle choices, and institutionalized racism. The vast and rugged Alaskan terrain presents unique challenges in providing cancer care, with only five oncologists serving nearly 242,000 Alaska Natives across more than 665,000 square miles.
To combat these disparities, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium is focusing on cancer prevention strategies, including improving screening rates and promoting healthy lifestyles. Dr. Mariampillai emphasizes the importance of early detection and prevention, stating, “We can have the most effective and expensive cancer treatments that increase overall survival, but it should be everyone’s goal to prevent cancer from ever developing.”
Despite the challenges, progress is being made in cancer awareness and education, particularly among younger people in the Indigenous community. The hope is that these efforts will lead to decreased cancer incidence and mortality rates in Alaska Native populations in the future.