United States Cancer Statistics (USCS)

Uses for Report Data

Data from this report provide a basis for research, cancer control planning, health communications, and policy development efforts. Below are examples that illustrate these potential data uses:

• Describing the variability in cancer incidence and death rates across different populations and identifying patterns.



• Determining differences in the cancer burden in similar states or regions to guide planning efforts for cancer control programs. (Refer to Guidance for Comparing States' Cancer Data.)



• Developing effective, evidence-based cancer prevention and control activities based on the identification of populations at risk for certain cancers.
  
  
• Helping design, implement, and expand comprehensive cancer control efforts.



• Providing information for a national database of cancer incidence and mortality data that can be used in conducting data linkages and designing special studies.



• Responding to community and media inquiries on cancer incidence and cancer mortality.



• Developing Web-based resources to help state health departments plan effective cancer prevention and control activities (e.g., Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T.).



• Developing culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate materials to communicate with diverse racial and ethnic audiences.



• Developing guidelines, policy, or legislation to strengthen or enhance cancer control efforts.



• Conducting special studies to advance clinical, epidemiologic, and health services research.



• Providing information to help state registries improve the quality and usefulness of their data and to link with other databases.



• Setting priorities for allocating health resources.