M. Mccredie et al., CANCER INCIDENCE IN MIGRANTS TO NEW-SOUTH-WALES (AUSTRALIA) FROM THE MIDDLE-EAST, 1972-91, CCC. Cancer causes & control, 5(5), 1994, pp. 414-421
The incidence of cancer in migrants to New South Wales (NSW) from Cypr
us, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey has been com
pared with that in the Australian-born population using data from the
NSW Central Cancer Registry for 1972-91. Age-standardized incidence ra
tes showed overall cancer incidence to be less common in migrants from
each Middle Eastern country than in the Australian-born. There was a
clear pattern of generally low rates for cancers of the mouth and phar
ynx, esophagus, colon and rectum, lung (men only), ovary, prostate and
testis, and melanoma. Cancers which tended to be more common in migra
nts were nasopharynx, stomach (women only), liver (men only), gallblad
der (chiefly in women), bladder (men only), and thyroid. Breast cancer
did not show a uniform pattern among migrant groups, rates being high
in the Egyptian-born but low in Lebanese-born women. The overall low
incidence of cancers related to tobacco and alcohol, and to a 'high fa
t, low fiber' diet, emphasizes the potential role of preventable lifes
tyle factors in the burden of cancer in Australia.