Less cancer among immigrants

A new study shows that there are major differences between immigrants and Norwegian-born when it comes to the occurrence of several types of cancer.

The Cancer Registry’s investigation shows that people from Asia, for example, are almost not affected by melanoma. Every year, more than 2,000 Norwegian-born people get this disease, writes Aftenposten.

In the case of colorectal cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer, there are also large differences between Norwegian-born and immigrants from Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

It is the first time the Cancer Registry has looked at all cancer incidence in the entire immigrant population in Norway and compared different groups, the newspaper writes.

Scientist Kristin Larsen at the Cancer Registry says lifestyle is linked to many cancers and points out that many immigrants have a healthier and more plant-based diet.

– We should also find out how we can help immigrants maintain their healthy habits so that neither they nor their children adopt poor dietary habits. A healthier diet is among the highlights, says Giske Ursin, director of the Cancer Registry, about the study.

Prostate and lung cancers are among the most common cancers among men, regardless of country background. Breast cancer is most common among women, regardless of country background, the study shows. Although the immigrant population is predominantly younger than the Norwegian-born, the researchers have tried to compensate for this bias in the study.