Health Habits and Cancer Risk Comparison Among Migrant Sri Lankans and Sri Lankans

Health Habits and Cancer Risk Among a US Migrant Sri Lankan Population and a Comparison With Siblings Living in Sri Lanka

Objectives:

General objective:

To determine how acculturation to United States has influenced the health and cancer risk among a US migrant Sri Lankan population.

Specific objectives:

1. To determine the prevalence of cancer and cancer related non-communicable diseases among Sri Lankan Sinhalese living in the greater Houston area.
2. To study the distribution of risk factors for cancer in this population.
3. To study the pattern of utilization of methods available for early detection of cancer in this population.
4. To study and compare the findings of this survey with that of the siblings of this population living in Sri Lanka.

A health survey among Sinhala adults living in Houston comparing the health and health habits between the Sri Lankans living in Houston and their close relatives living in Sri Lanka.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Sri Lankan Sinhalese adults (18 years of age or older) living in the greater Houston area but born in Sri Lanka
2. Siblings or the first cousins of the study participants living in Sri Lanka of same sex and of an age plus or minus 10 years

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Sri Lankan Sinhalese born in the US
2. Sri Lankan Sinhalese under 18 years of age
3. Participation in a M. D. Anderson sponsored focus group or survey regarding health within the past 6 months