Native American/Alaska Native | General

Cancer

Within the last 30 years, cancer has become the third leading cause of death for American Indians and Alaska Natives of all ages and is the second leading cause of death among American Indians aged 45 and over. Within the last few generations cancer has also become the leading cause of death for Alaska Native women and is the second leading cause of death among American Indian women. In recent years, education and research initiatives have focused on culturally competent ways to address this growing concern within Indian Country.

Native American/Alaska Native Resources

• Cancer in Women of Color – American Indians and Alaska Natives
  From the federal government this chapter in a book on cancer in women of color deals with cancer in Native American/Alaska Native women. It has a 28-page printable PDF file with charts and a reference section.



• Intercultural Cancer Council – ICC
  This document on the Web is 4-pages in a .pdf format. It has lots of cancer facts and statistics and a bibliography of journal articles, reports and other publications.



• IHS Women's Health – Cancer
  The Indian Health Service links to information on all kinds of cancer that affects women.



• National Indian Health Board's Cancer Page
  A one page list of programs and links to other cancer sites, many of them not related to Indians.



• National Women's Health Network Fact Sheet – Breast Cancer and Native American Women
  A single page discussing the incidence, mortality, survival and insurance and access to services for Native American and Alaska Native women with breast cancer.



• Native American Cancer Research (NACR)
  The goal of the NACR is to reduce Native American cancer incidence and mortality, and to increase survival from cancer among Native Americans. Unfortunately this site does not appear to be updated very regularly.



• Native American Programs at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center
  Mayo Clinic’s Cancer Center has several programs that work with Native Americans and Alaska natives around the issue of cancer. Native C.I.R.C.L.E. is a resource for those working with cancer patients. Spirit of EAGLES promotes community involvement in improving cancer treatment.

General Resources

• American Cancer Society
  This is a comprehensive site for all kinds of cancer information from a non-profit organization. There is prevention, early detection, and treatment information as well as links to support groups and local organizations and resources.



• Mayo Clinic – Native American Programs  
  The Mayo Clinic Cancer Center sponsors initiatives to address the high incidence of cancer in AI/AN populations. Native Circle is a resource center providing cancer-related materials to health-care professionals and lay people involved in education, care and treatment. Spirit of Eagles Native Leadership Initiative on Cancer takes a comprehensive approach to cancer control through partnerships with the Network for Cancer Control Research. Native WEB provides on-site training to nurses for the early detection of breast and cervix cancer.



• MedlinePlus® – Cancer (General)  
  Links to evaluated consumer health information are offered on MedlinePlus. Besides the general cancer page there are also pages for Cancer Alternative Therapy, Cancer Chemotherapy and Cancer – Living with Cancer and pages for specific kinds of cancer like liver cancer or lung cancer.



• National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  An excellent, authoritative Web resource for cancer diagnosis, treatment and coping information. NCI is one of the institutes at the National Institutes of Health.