Cancer in Circumpolar Inuit. Background information for Alaska.

The cancer patterns among Inuit in the Circumpolar area have shown some marked differences from other populations in the world. The current paper summarizes important risk factors in Alaska including the physical environment, diet, alcohol, tobacco; the populations at risk; the health care delivery system; and cancer registration. This information is important for the interpretation of the incidence pattern for the Circumpolar Inuit collectively and for the understanding of differences between the various Inuit populations of the North.