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The American Cancer Society reports that cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death among Hispanics, while heart disease still remains the number one cause of death among non-Hispanic whites and African-Americans.

The 2012-2014 statistics which are published in  the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, and its companion publication, Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos, suggest that this year 33,200 cancer related deaths will occur for Hispanics, up from the 29,935 reported in 2009.

The numbers reveals that Hispanics have a lower  incidence and death rate than non-Hispanic whites for all cancers combined, but more specifically for breast, prostate, lung and bronchus and colorectum.

Conversely, Hispanics have higher incidence and mortality rates for cancers of the stomach, liver, uterine cervix, and gallbladder, reflecting greater exposure to cancer-causing infectious agents, lower rates of screening for cervical cancer, and possibly genetic factors; the death rate is as much as 70 percent higher for Hispanic women than non-Hispanic Women.

Researchers are using lifestyle habits and socioeconomic factors to gauge the best preventative and treatment methods for each group and subgroups within.

The report notes that:

"Much of the difference in the cancer burden among U.S. Hispanics results from their unique profile in terms of age distribution, socioeconomic status, and immigration history."

For instance, cancer is more prevalent in older generation Hispanics and access to medical care is severely limited among immigrants with dubious immigration statuses.

The American Cancer society reports that in 2010, more than one in four (26.6%) Hispanics lived in poverty and nearly one in three (30.7%) was uninsured, compared with 9.9% and 11.7%, respectively, of non-Hispanic whites.

Strategies for reducing cancer risk among Hispanics include increasing utilization of screening and available vaccines, as well as implementing effective interventions to reduce tobacco use, obesity, and alcohol consumption among certain subgroups who are prone to such factors, as with Puerto Rican men, Cuban men, and Mexican men respectively.

"There is substantial heterogeneity within the US Hispanic population. The most effective strategies for reducing the cancer burden in these underserved communities utilize tailored, culturally appropriate interventions, such as patient navigation, to increase access to medical services." said Rebecca Siegel, MPH, lead author of the report.