Differences in Breast Cancer Risk Associated with Acculturation Among Mexican-American Women
Previous studies have shown that incidence of breast cancer is higher among women of Mexican descent in the United States when compared to women who live in Mexico. A new study published online in the journal Women’s Health Issues in July shows that a woman’s acculturation may impact her risk of malignancy.
“When a Mexican woman migrates to the United States she is likely to adopt a less healthy lifestyle that is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer,” said first author Jesse Nodora, DrPH, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine assistant professor in the department of Family Medicine and Public Health. “This new lifestyle may include a less healthy diet, lower levels of physical activity, increased sedentary behavior, and a culture (through social norms) that is more accepting of alcohol consumption.”
For the first time, researchers compared the prevalence of behavioral risk factors and family history of breast cancer by both country of residence (U.S.) and country of origin (Mexico) for women of Mexican descent. Women in the U.S. were divided into three acculturation groups: Spanish-language dominant, bilingual and English-language dominant. Breast cancer risk factors and family history were compared among women living in Mexico and women at each of the three acculturation levels living in the U.S.
The study results showed that bilingual and English-dominant Mexican-American women were more likely to be overweight, consume more than one alcohol beverage per week and report a family history of breast cancer compared to women living in Mexico. All three acculturation groups were less active than those in Mexico.
As women of Mexican descent become more acculturated in the U.S. they are less likely to be current cigarette users and are more likely to report a family history of breast cancer, suggesting that open discussions among family members about breast cancer may be more frequent for this group than women living in Mexico, said Nodora, a researcher at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Latina women in the U.S. This group also has a lower survival rate compared to non-Hispanic white women. Interventions and public health policies may benefit from considering the increase in risk factors occurring with acculturation among Mexican-American women, said Nodora.
“Our culture and related social norms affect how we think and behave, including what we eat, our physical activity levels and use of substances, such as tobacco,” said Nodora. “In the United States, we have a very large and growing population of Mexican descent whose risk and protective factor profile for breast and other cancers is not clearly understood. Strong evidence that cultural differences exist is a first step toward better understanding how to address risk factors among Latina women in both the U.S. and Mexico.”
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