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Resources and Methods for Studying Cancer Among Asian Americans

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Cancer Epidemiology Among Asian Americans

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Abstract

Asian Americans are a diverse group and have a long history of migration to the United States (USA). Large differences in cancer rates between countries of origin and the USA, as well as diversity in lifestyle and environmental exposures, provide an opportunity to identify and study risk factors for specific cancers that can provide insights into cancer etiology and methods of prevention. The migration experience has created a type of natural experiment in which populations with a common genetic background have been exposed to different risk factors in a new environment and provides the opportunity to determine if risk factor changes can be linked to changes in their cancer rates. Multiple data sources are available to study cancer in Asian Americans, including US Census data to provide denominators for rates, cancer registries to assess cancer incidence, as well as observational studies in which personal risk factor information is obtained. Study designs which have been used include the ecologic, cross-sectional, case series, case-control, and cohort studies. Limitations and caveats in using these resources and study designs are described.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Ann S. Hamilton Ph.D., Anna H. Wu & Daniel O. Stram

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  1. Ann S. Hamilton Ph.D.
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  2. Anna H. Wu
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  3. Daniel O. Stram
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Correspondence to Ann S. Hamilton Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Anna H. Wu

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of USC University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Daniel O. Stram

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Hamilton, A.S., Wu, A.H., Stram, D.O. (2016). Resources and Methods for Studying Cancer Among Asian Americans. In: Wu, A., Stram, D. (eds) Cancer Epidemiology Among Asian Americans. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41118-7_1

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