HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Cancer Statistics, 2018

Study Abstract

Abstract: Each year, the American Cancer Society estimates the numbers of new
cancer cases and deaths that will occur in the United States and compiles the most
recent data on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival. Incidence data, available
through 2014, were collected by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program;
the National Program of Cancer Registries; and the North American Association
of Central Cancer Registries. Mortality data, available through 2015, were collected
by the National Center for Health Statistics. In 2018, 1,735,350 new cancer cases
and 609,640 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the United States. Over the
past decade of data, the cancer incidence rate (2005-2014) was stable in women
and declined by approximately 2% annually in men, while the cancer death rate
(2006-2015) declined by about 1.5% annually in both men and women. The combined
cancer death rate dropped continuously from 1991 to 2015 by a total of 26%, translating
to approximately 2,378,600 fewer cancer deaths than would have been
expected if death rates had remained at their peak. Of the 10 leading causes of
death, only cancer declined from 2014 to 2015. In 2015, the cancer death rate was
14% higher in non-Hispanic blacks (NHBs) than non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) overall
(death rate ratio [DRR], 1.14; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.13-1.15), but the
racial disparity was much larger for individuals aged 1.29-1.32) compared with those aged 65 years (DRR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.06-1.09) and
varied substantially by state. For example, the cancer death rate was lower in NHBs
than NHWs in Massachusetts for all ages and in New York for individuals aged 65
years, whereas for those aged District of Columbia (DRR, 2.89; 95% CI, 2.16-3.91) and about 50% higher in
Wisconsin (DRR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.56-2.02), Kansas (DRR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.25-1.81),
Louisiana (DRR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.38-1.60), Illinois (DRR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.39-1.57), and
California (DRR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.38-1.54). Larger racial inequalities in young and
middle-aged adults probably partly reflect less access to high-quality health care. CA
Cancer J Clin 2018;68:7-30. VC 2018 American Cancer Society.
Keywords: cancer cases, cancer statistics, death rates, incidence, mortality