| Demographic Group: | All resident persons. |
| Numerator: | Incident cases of cancer with an International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-O-2 or ICD-O-3 (for cases diagnosed after January 1, 2001) code C00–C80 and behavior >= 3 (malignant, primary site), or C67.0–C67.9 (bladder cancer) and behavior >= 2 or 3 (in-situ or malignant, primary site) among residents during a calendar year (certain histologic types are excluded). |
| Denominator: | Midyear resident population for the same calendar year. |
| Measures of Frequency: | Annual number of incident cases. Annual incidence — crude and age-adjusted (standardized by the direct method to the year 2000 standard U.S. population based on single years of age from the Census P25-1130 series estimates*) — with 95% confidence interval. |
| Time Period of Case Definition: | Calendar year. |
| Background: | Approximately 1.3 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed annually. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately one in two males and one in three females will have a diagnosis of cancer over their lifetime. |
| Significance: | Information on cancer at all sites combined provides a measure of, and means of tracking, the substantial burden imposed by cancer. Morbidity from cancers of the lung, colon, female breast, cervix, oral cavity and pharynx, and multiple other cancers can be reduced through known interventions. |
| Limitations of Indicator: | Cancer is not a single disease, but rather numerous diseases with different causes, risks, and potential interventions. Interpretation of trends or patterns in cancer incidence can be made only by examination of specific types of cancers. Because certain cancers have a long latency period, years might pass before changes in behavior or clinical practice patterns affect the incidence of new cancer cases. In addition, certain cancers are not amenable to primary prevention or screening. |
| Data Resources: | Cancer incidence data from statewide central cancer registries (numerator) and population estimates from the U.S. Bureau of the Census or suitable alternative (denominator).
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/uscs/Table.aspx?Group=TableGeo&Year=2001&Display=n |
| Limitations of Data Resources: | Data from certain existing statewide central cancer registries do not yet meet standards for data completeness and quality. Certain newly established state registries have not yet begun to produce surveillance data. Therefore, nationwide estimates calculated from aggregated state data might not include data from each state. However, state registry data should accurately represent state cancer incidence in the majority of states, particularly where completeness and quality of registry data are high. |
| Healthy People 2010 Objectives: | No objective. |
