Trends in cancer mortality among Puerto Rican-born migrants to New York City.

Age-standardized cancer death rates in Puerto Rican-born males and females residing in New York City have been calculated for 1979-81, and compared with those for white non-Puerto Rican-born people. For all population groups the rates in 1979-81 have been compared with rates in 1969-71. For some cancer sites, in particular cancers of the lung, breast and ovary, the Puerto Rican migrant population exhibited rates well below those of other residents of New York at both time periods. For other sites, most notably colon cancer (and to a lesser extent, prostate and bladder cancer), the rates for Puerto Ricans were somewhat lower than those of other New Yorkers in 1979-81, but had very markedly increased from levels shown in the earlier period. The Puerto Rican-born population at each time period had considerably higher rates of stomach cancer and cervical cancer than did 'other' white New Yorkers. Although substantial reductions in risk for these sites occurred among Puerto Ricans during the intercensal period examined, these corresponded to the reductions among 'other' white New York residents. The trends are discussed with reference to differences in lifestyle patterns, especially diet.