title: Women's cancers among Alaska Natives 1969-2003.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alaska Native people include multiple, diverse ethnic groups whose ancestors occupied what is now the state of Alaska. Cancer incidence rates among Alaska Native women for breast, cervix, uterus and ovary are presented here. Current rates and trends over time are compared with US White rates.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe cancer incidence patterns for cancer of the breast, cervix, uterus and ovary among Alaska Native women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cancer incidence data for Alaska Natives are from the Alaska Native Tumor Registry, in Anchorage, Alaska. Incidence rates for US Whites are from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Breast and cervical cancer incidence rates among Alaska Natives are similar to US White rates, whereas rates for cancer of the uterus and ovary are significantly less than those of US Whites. Thirty-five year trends show increasing rates in breast cancer and decreasing rates of cervical cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The burden of cancer among Alaska Native women for cancers unique to women is significant. Increasing breast cancer rates among Alaska Natives has greatly contributed to this burden.
authors.affiliation: Alaska Native Tribal Consortium, Office of Alaska Native Health Research Epidemiology Center, USA.
authors.forename: Gretchen E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Janet J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Anne P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Lanier
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000413:Alaska / Q000453:epidemiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007198:Indians, North American; D004930:Inuit; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016387:Women's Health