Cancer risks among residents of Manitoba Indian reserves, 1970-79.

A descriptive epidemiologic study of malignant neoplasms among residents of Indian reserves in Manitoba from 1970 to 1979 based on the Manitoba Cancer Registry revealed an unusual pattern. There was a greater risk for kidney cancer in both sexes and for gallbladder and invasive cervical cancer in women. The risk was reduced, however, for cancer of the lung in men and of the breast in women, cancers with a high incidence in the general Canadian population. Overall the risk for cancer was lower in both sexes. The results are compared with those of other studies in Indians, and possible exposure to risk factors in this population is discussed.