Monday, Jan 17 2011 3:23PM
California researchers are working to discover why the state's Native American population has such a rate of cancer.
Officials from the University of California at Davis and the Cancer Tribal Epidemiology Center of the California Rural Indian Health Board have signed an agreement that solidifies a partnership between the organizations toward the improvement of cancer education and outreach among the state's Native American population.
According to UC Davis, both the university and the CTEC are hoping to secure grants that will allow them to study the cancer experiences of Native Americans living in California. Thomas Kim, a medical epidemiologist with the CTEC, said the Native American program will also allow researchers to discover how a health risk factor like obesity affects the rate at which the demographic develops cancer.
"As a former tribal clinical physician, I have seen these issues galvanize a community to engage preventive efforts, particularly in their concern for their children and for future generations," Kim said.
Rebecca Garrow, a research associate with the CTEC, said information fostered from the partnership can also help researchers discover how the "historical trauma" experienced by Native Americans has affected the population's overall physical and mental well-being.
Heart disease and cancer are leading causes of death among Native Americans, reported the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which also said 14 percent of the 3.4 million Native Americans are in a poor state of health, showing the need for more medical programs to help the population.