Cancer is a disease where some cells in the body grow out of control and can spread to other parts of the body. Cancer can start almost anywhere because the body is made up of trillions of cells. Normally, cells grow, divide, and die in an orderly way. When old or damaged cells die, new cells replace them. Sometimes this process does not work properly, and abnormal or damaged cells keep growing when they should not. These cells may form tumors, which are lumps of tissue. Some tumors can be cancerous and can spread to or invade nearby tissues. Many cancers form solid tumors, but blood cancers, like leukemia, usually do not.
You can lower your risk of developing many common cancers by making healthy lifestyle choices. Screening tests can find some cancers early, when they are easier to treat. Vaccines can also help prevent certain types of cancer.
- In 2022, Asian/Pacific Islander men were 28% more likely than men nationwide to be diagnosed with stomach cancer.
- In 2022, Asian/Pacific Islander women were 19% more likely than women nationwide to be diagnosed with liver and bile duct cancer.
- From 2019 to 2023, Asian/Pacific Islander men were 49% more likely, and women were 65% more likely, to die from stomach cancer compared with the U.S. population overall.
Additional Resources
MedlinePlus
National Cancer Institute
Related Data
Further Reading
Occurrence
| Cancer among adults ages 18 and over, age-adjusted percentage, 2022-2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | NHPI, single race | Total Population | Ratio (NHPI / Total) |
| All Sites | 5.1 | 9.8 | 0.52 |
| Breast | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.76 |
| Cervical (Female) | Not Reported | 1.0 | Not Reported |
| Prostate (Male) | Not Reported | 2.5 | Not Reported |
| Any skin | 0.2 | 3.4 | 0.06 |
Top Cancer Sites
| Cancer incidence among males, delay-adjusted and age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population, 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Asian/Pacific Islander* Males | Total Population Males | Ratio (Asian/Pacific Islander* / Total) |
| All Sites | 328.3 | 500.3 | 0.66 |
| Colon & Rectum (Including Appendix) | 38.3 | 43.5 | 0.88 |
| Esophagus | 4.1 | 7.3 | 0.56 |
| Kidney | 11.7 | 23.6 | 0.50 |
| Liver & Intrahepatic Bile Duct (IBD) | 16.6 | 13.9 | 1.19 |
| Lung | 41.2 | 51.0 | 0.81 |
| Oral Cavity & Pharynx | 12.3 | 17.9 | 0.69 |
| Pancreas | 12.1 | 15.9 | 0.76 |
| Prostate | 77.2 | 133.6 | 0.58 |
| Stomach | 12.3 | 9.6 | 1.28 |
| Cancer incidence among females, delay-adjusted and age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population, 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Asian/Pacific Islander* Females | Total Population Females | Ratio (Asian/Pacific Islander / Total) |
| All Sites | 349.0 | 441.7 | 0.79 |
| Breast | 126.9 | 136.5 | 0.93 |
| Cervical | 5.8 | 7.8 | 0.74 |
| Colon & Rectum (Including Appendix) | 27.1 | 34.0 | 0.80 |
| Kidney | 5.3 | 12.0 | 0.44 |
| Liver & Intrahepatic Bile Duct (IBD) | 6.9 | 5.8 | 1.19 |
| Lung | 28.5 | 43.7 | 0.65 |
| Pancreas | 9.9 | 12.7 | 0.78 |
| Stomach | 7.6 | 6.5 | 1.17 |
| Uterus | 24.7 | 29.2 | 0.85 |
Five-Year Survival Rates
| 5-year survival rate among males, percentage, 2015–2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Asian/Pacific Islander* Males | Total Population Males | Ratio (Asian/Pacific Islander* / Total) |
| All Sites | 62.2 | 68.7 | 0.91 |
| Colon & Rectum (Including Appendix) | 66.9 | 64.5 | 1.04 |
| Kidney | 79.3 | 78.8 | 1.01 |
| Liver & IBD | 31.2 | 21.7 | 1.44 |
| Lung | 29.3 | 23.8 | 1.23 |
| Pancreas | 14.6 | 13.1 | 1.11 |
| Prostate | 93.8 | 98.6 | 0.95 |
| Stomach | 42.9 | 34.2 | 1.25 |
| 5-year survival rate among females, percentage, 2015–2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Asian/Pacific Islander* Females | Total Population Females | Ratio (Asian/Pacific Islander / Total) |
| All Sites | 73.3 | 71.2 | 1.03 |
| Breast | 92.3 | 91.7 | 1.01 |
| Cervical | 70.9 | 68.0 | 1.04 |
| Colon & Rectum (Including Appendix) | 66.9 | 66.4 | 1.01 |
| Kidney | 80.0 | 81.4 | 0.98 |
| Liver & IBD | 28.2 | 22.8 | 1.24 |
| Lung | 40.1 | 32.6 | 1.23 |
| Pancreas | 15.5 | 13.5 | 1.15 |
| Stomach | 42.0 | 43.2 | 0.97 |
| Uterus | 82.3 | 81.1 | 1.01 |
Mortality
| 5-year mortality among males, age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population, 2019–2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Asian/Pacific Islander* Males | Total Population Males | Ratio (Asian/Pacific Islander* / Total) |
| All Sites | 107.1 | 171.5 | 0.62 |
| Colon & Rectum (Including Appendix) | 10.9 | 15.3 | 0.71 |
| Liver & IBD | 11.4 | 9.4 | 1.21 |
| Lung | 23.4 | 37.2 | 0.63 |
| Pancreas | 8.4 | 12.9 | 0.65 |
| Prostate | 8.8 | 19.2 | 0.46 |
| Stomach | 5.2 | 3.5 | 1.49 |
| 5-year survival rate among females, percentage, 2015–2021 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Asian/Pacific Islander* Females | Total Population Females | Ratio (Asian/Pacific Islander / Total) |
| All Sites | 83.1 | 126.3 | 0.66 |
| Breast | 11.8 | 19.2 | 0.61 |
| Cervical | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.73 |
| Colon & Rectum (Including Appendix) | 7.8 | 10.8 | 0.72 |
| Liver & IBD | 5.2 | 4.3 | 1.21 |
| Pancreas | 7.2 | 9.9 | 0.73 |
| Stomach | 3.3 | 2.0 | 1.65 |
| Uterus | 3.8 | 5.3 | 0.72 |
*Population is non-Hispanic in the data source.
Date Last Reviewed: January 2026