The report, called 'Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2003 ', indicates that from 1999 to the 2003 Hispanics had a smaller incidence than the non-Hispanic whites in most cancers.

But not everything is good news.

Latinos continue having very low detection and early diagnosis rates in the more common types of cancer, when they can still be treated and cured. Among them breast, colon, lung, prostate, rectum and uterine neck cancer should be mentioned.

Doctor Javier Roca, member of the Queens Medical Associate, and spokesman of the American Cancer Society, explained that for genetic reasons, Latinos always have had a little less incidence -than other ethnic groups- to suffer any of the four main types of cancer in the United States. "Hispanics suffer less of the lung cancer, breast, colon and prostate".

"Although Latin people have less incidence, when they do go to see a doctor and one of those cancers is diagnosed they are already are in the most advanced stage and that is a great issue, because their cancer mortality rate is greater", said the specialist.

The doctor indicated that among the reasons Hispanics do not detect the cancer early, must be mentioned the lack of evaluation programs and the fact that Latinos do not go to the health system, because they do not like to go to the doctor or because they do not have a health insurance policy.

"Hispanics always wait for until the last moment to go to the doctor, whereas other people make routine visits to the doctor, although they do not feel ill", indicated the physician.

The report also described that in Hispanics there is a higher incidence in those cancers that are originated by infections such as the Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) -which originates cervical cancer- Helicobacter pylori -which causes stomach cancer- Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C which cause liver cancer.

The report which offers the most updated information about cancer in the Hispanic community -the ethnic group with the highest growth rate and which makes up 13% of the population in the USA- assures that the incidence in Latino children of leukemia, retinoblastoma, osteosarcoma, and germinal cellular tumors is greater than in non-Latin white children.

The report also highlights the risk factors that cause greater cancer incidence: the environment -where they reside and work- a lower level of education and income, ignorance of the English language, little access to social support programs specifically directed to minorities so that they participate in early detection examinations, limited access to medical services due to a lack of health insurance; and little information explaining genetic predisposition to cancer.

Nevertheless, factors exist that favor Latinos such as their youth and fact that they tend to consume low animal fatty diets. Combined to this, the indices of Hispanics which smoke are smaller than those of whites and blacks.

Although the doctor assures that early detection is key to prevent the advance of a cancer, he also recognizes that often it is difficult to prevent the appearance of this malady. However, the physician adds it is possible to avoid or to modify risk factors such as smoking.

"Tobacco causes at least five different types of cancer. They must eat suitably; not to eat excess fatty foods, and to exercise. These are simple things and of common sense that help to be healthy, and that is the best thing that any person can do to avoid a cancer ".