LA’s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center leads study on Filipinos and cancer

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. WEBSITE

LOS ANGELES — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles is spearheading a research program into the Filipino American community’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviors toward cancer and prevention.

The survey, entitled “Survey of Cancer Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors in the Filipino Community,” seeks participants to answer questions about what they know about cancer, prevention, and access to health care.

The questionnaire, available online at ceda.rs/cancersurvey, is voluntary and open to Filipino individuals 18 and over living in California.

Other questions cover cancer risk factors like smoking, drinking and exercise habits and one’s medical history.

Cedars-Sinai’s Research Center for Health Equity conducted an initial survey this past summer and received about 500 respondents from the Fil-Am community. Initial results showed Fil-Am women having higher rates of breast cancer as well as the highest incidence of thyroid cancer and obesity.

The hospital has done similar inquiries into other underserved populations, such as the Korean American and Hispanic communities, by conducting outreach and screenings at churches and other local events.