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"There's a big problem getting medical interpretation for people who don't speak English," she said. "There is no mechanism to pay for it. If you're lucky, they will bring in the housekeeper or somebody who happens to be around to translate."

The inability to communicate, combined with financial issues, has led some women to skip appointments, Waldman said.

Nearly 99,000 Hispanics in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer in 2009, according to the American Cancer Society. Among men, prostate is the most common malignancy; among women, it's breast cancer. Colorectal cancer is the second-most common cancer in both Hispanic men and women.

About 18,800 Hispanics will die from cancer in 2009, the society estimates. Among men, lung and colorectal cancer cause the most deaths, whereas breast and lung cancer are the top two killers of women.

More information

The American Cancer Society has more on racial and ethnic disparities and cancer.

SOURCES: Vilma Cokkinides, Ph.D., director, risk factor surveillance, American Cancer Society, Atlanta; Hilary Waldman, spokeswoman, Hispanic Health Council, Hartford, Conn.; Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanics/Latinos 2009-2011, Sept. 15, 2009