Cancer in Guam and Hawaii: A comparison of two U.S. Island populations.

Background: Cancer disparities within and across populations provide insight into the influence of lifestyle, environment, and genetic factors on cancer risk.

Methods: Guam cancer incidence and mortality were compared to that of Hawaii using data from their respective population-based, central cancer registries.

Results: In 2009-2013, overall cancer incidence was substantially lower in Guam than in Hawaii for both sexes while overall cancer mortality was higher for Guam males.

Screening for oral potentially malignant disorders among areca (betel) nut chewers in Guam and Saipan.

Background: The Mariana Islands, including Guam and Saipan, are home to many ethnic subpopulations of Micronesia. Oral cancer incidence rates vary among subpopulations, and areca (betel) nut chewing, a habit with carcinogenic risks, is common. Our objectives were to conduct a screening program to detect oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) in betel nut chewers, measure their betel nut chewing practices, and assess the prevalence of the oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in a subset of betel nut chewers in these islands.

Cancer mortality following polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination of a Guam village.

Unlabelled: Beginning more than 10 years after the release of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in the favored fishing grounds of Merizo village, an increase in the proportional cancer mortality rate was observed among residents of the village. This increased rate continued for approximately 20 years after which it returned to near island-wide Guam levels. Although the temporal association between PCB contamination of the environment of this village and an increase in cancer mortality is intriguing, it does not necessarily demonstrate a cause and effect relationship.

Social Support for Chamorro Breast Cancer Survivors on Guam.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the types of social support used by Chamorro (indigenous) breast cancer survivors on Guam.

Methods: We assessed social support use among 25 self-reported Chamorro women with a diagnosis of breast cancer through interviews and construction of genograms and ecomaps -pictorial displays of the women's family relationships, medical history, and their social networks.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 54.

Ethnic disparities in cancer incidence among residents of Guam.

Cancer incidence data collected by the Guam Cancer Registry for the period 1998 through 2002 were analyzed by cancer site, age, and ethnicity. Ethnicity and site specific age-adjusted cancer incidence rates for Guam residents were calculated utilizing Guam 2000 census data and the U.S.