KJZZ feature: Native Americans have higher cancer rates. Researchers are trying to figure out why
By Lauren Gilger Jan. 31, 2023
The impacts of structural racism has led to many inequities for Native Americans, from poverty to education to health disparities — including cancer rates.
This group has higher rates of cancer, including lung, colorectal, liver, stomach and kidney cancer, than the rest of the population.
The reasons why are vast, but Nicolette Teufel-Shone we don’t have a good enough grasp of the data on Native American cancer rates to begin in earnest to address the problem.
Teufel-Shone is the associate director of the Center for Health Equity Research at Northern Arizona University, and she’s heading up a new center there that’s focused on Native American cancer, thanks to a $4 million award from the American Cancer Society.
Native Americans have higher cancer rates. Researchers are trying to figure out why Listen to the full interview on KJZZ.