Incidence of cancer among Pacific Island people in New Zealand

Abstract

Aim: to describe the epidemiology of new cancer registrations among Pacific Island people in New Zealand with a view to identifying important cancers for preventive activities.

Methods: new cancer cases registered with the New Zealand Cancer Registry of the Health Statistical Services for the decade 1979-88 were analysed. Cancer cases among Pacific Island people were compared with cancer cases among Maori and the remainder of the New Zealand population (other).

Results: while the number of cases reported among Pacific Island people was relatively small (1884), age standardised rates for cancer of all sites were much higher than age standardised rates for Maori and other populations. The age standardised rate (per 100,000 person years) for cancer of all sites among males in all age groups was 400 for Pacific Island, 308.8 for Maori and 295.3 for others. The age standardised rate for cancer of all sites among women in all age groups was 373.3 for Pacific Island women, 324.2 for Maori and 313.4 for other women. Liver cancer was more common among Pacific Island men than could be explained by temporary migration from the Pacific Islands for treatment. The age standardised rate for liver cancer was 28.2 for Pacific Island men, 11.4 for Maori and 1.9 for other men. Cancer of the cervix was the leading site among Pacific Island women as in Maori women, compared with breast cancer among women in the rest of the population. The age standardised rate for cervical cancer was 61.8 for Pacific Island, 69.0 for Maori and 59.3 for other women.

Conclusion: in the decade 1979-88 there was an excess number of new registrations for some cancers described among Pacific Island people compared with Maori and other ethnic groups. Temporary migration from the Pacific Islands for treatment may explain some of the excess cases.