Objective

To observe stage at diagnosis and cancer-specific survival for common cancers among Armenians in California.

Methods

We used the Armenian Surname List and birthplace information in the California Cancer Registry to identify Armenians with stomach, lung, colorectal, and bladder cancers diagnosed during 1988-2019. We used multivariable logistic regression models to calculate odds of late-stage diagnoses among Armenian and non-Armenian, non-Hispanic White patients and examine the association of sociodemographic factors with late-stage diagnoses among the Armenian patient population. We used Cox proportional hazards models to calculate cancer-specific survival among Armenian patients compared to non-Armenian, non-Hispanic White patients.

Results

Of the 639,224 cancer diagnoses identified, 6642 were among Armenian patients. Armenian individuals were more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage colorectal (OR = 1.12, 95 % CI = 1.03-1.22), lung (OR = 1.26, 95 % CI = 1.12-1.42), and stomach (OR = 1.43, 95 % CI = 1.17-1.74) cancers. Among Armenian patients, low nSES and public insurance were associated with late-stage diagnoses. Armenian individuals had better survival than non-Armenian, non-Hispanic White individuals for stomach (HR = 0.85, 95 % CI = 0.76-0.94), lung (HR = 0.86, 95 % CI = 0.82-0.91), colorectal (HR = 0.82, 95 % CI = 0.77-0.88), and bladder (HR = 0.87, 95 % CI = 0.76-0.99) cancers.

Conclusion

While Armenian patients were at greater risk of late-stage diagnoses of colorectal, lung, and stomach cancers, they had better survival compared to non-Armenian, non-Hispanic White patients. Further research is needed to understand factors impacting survival in Armenian individuals, including genetic, behavioral, and social factors. Our findings of lower nSES and public health insurance associated with late-stage diagnoses suggest a need for increased access to care and cancer screening among the Armenian population in California.