Special Report
States With the Highest and Lowest Cancer Rates
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Last Updated:
Cancer has overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death in high-income countries, according to research published Tuesday. In the United States, cancer remains the second leading cause of death but is expected to replace heart disease within a year or two, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While cancer death rates have been declining for years new diagnoses are expected to continue to rise largely due to the ongoing growth and aging of the U.S. population. Age is the biggest risk factor for cancer.
Nationwide in 2016 — the latest year for which data is available — there were 436 new cancer cases for every 100,000 people, adjusting for age. The likelihood of being diagnosed with cancer, however, depends on a range of factors that contribute to large variations in cancer incidence between states. While it does not move the needle at the state level, your sex changes probability of being diagnosed with certain cancers — these are the most common types of cancer in men and women.
24/7 Tempo reviewed the latest cancer diagnosis rates in every state. We also reviewed overall cancer mortality rate, breast cancer incidence rate, and lung cancer mortality rate, as well as each state’s adult smoking rate, uninsured rate, and adult obesity rate. (We did not include skin cancer incidence. These are the states with the most skin cancer).
Breast and lung cancers are the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in 33 and 15 states respectively. Utah and Montana are two exceptions where prostate cancer is more frequently diagnosed. But breast and prostate cancer, while afflicting relatively more people, are not the deadliest forms of the disease. Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate of all cancers in every state except for Utah, where prostate cancer is the deadliest.
Click here to see the states with the highest rates of cancer.
Click here to see our detailed findings and full methodology.
50. New Mexico
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 9,075 or 359.4 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 106.6 per 100K (the lowest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 3,560 or 139.8 per 100K (5th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 16.6% (21st lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 11.2% (14th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.6% (8th lowest)
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49. Arizona
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 31,443 or 376.3 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 115.0 per 100K (7th lowest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 11,876 or 138.6 per 100K (4th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 14.7% (13th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 11.9% (11th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.2% (15th lowest)
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48. Nevada
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 13,054 or 385.0 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 111.7 per 100K (4th lowest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 5,214 or 158.8 per 100K (24th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 16.5% (20th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 13.1% (8th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.5% (13th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Nevada
47. California
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 164,887 or 385.6 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 118.3 per 100K (12th lowest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 59,513 or 140.2 per 100K (6th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 11.0% (2nd lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 8.4% (22nd lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 22.7% (2nd lowest)
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46. Colorado
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 23,244 or 388.8 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 127.4 per 100K (25th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 7,928 or 138.3 per 100K (3rd lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 15.6% (17th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 8.6% (23rd lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 21.0% (the lowest)
See all stories featuring: Colorado
45. Utah
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 10,494 or 390.6 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 114.4 per 100K (5th lowest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 3,125 or 123.3 per 100K (the lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 8.8% (the lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 9.7% (24th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.9% (10th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Utah
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44. Texas
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 109,083 or 391.8 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 107.6 per 100K (2nd lowest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 40,195 or 149.3 per 100K (15th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 14.3% (10th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 18.6% (the highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.0% (24th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Texas
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43. Wyoming
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 2,775 or 402.3 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 117.8 per 100K (11th lowest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 962 or 140.6 per 100K (7th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 18.9% (17th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 13.4% (7th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.5% (21st lowest)
See all stories featuring: Wyoming
42. Massachusetts
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 33,626 or 404.2 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 139.3 per 100K (2nd highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 12,717 or 149.9 per 100K (16th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 13.6% (5th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 3.0% (the lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 24.4% (4th lowest)
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41. Oregon
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 20,596 or 405.3 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 118.6 per 100K (13th lowest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 8,078 or 157.7 per 100K (22nd lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 16.2% (19th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 7.4% (19th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.3% (20th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Oregon
40. Alaska
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 2,882 or 405.8 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 114.8 per 100K (6th lowest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 995 or 159.3 per 100K (23rd highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 19.0% (16th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 15.5% (3rd highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.4% (21st highest)
See all stories featuring: Alaska
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39. Virginia
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 40,322 or 413.3 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 126.4 per 100K (25th lowest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 15,027 or 156.4 per 100K (20th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 15.3% (15th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 9.9% (22nd highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.8% (23rd lowest)
See all stories featuring: Virginia
38. Hawaii
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 7,395 or 414.2 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 133.2 per 100K (10th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 2,401 or 127.9 per 100K (2nd lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 13.1% (3rd lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 4.2% (2nd lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 23.1% (3rd lowest)
See all stories featuring: Hawaii
37. Florida
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 119,408 or 419.3 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 55.3 per 100K (20th lowest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 44,266 or 146.8 per 100K (11th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 15.5% (16th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 15.4% (4th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.5% (13th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Florida
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36. Michigan
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 53,911 or 436.8 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 123.3 per 100K (19th lowest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 20,870 or 166.1 per 100K (15th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 20.4% (11th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 6.4% (10th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.7% (16th highest)
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35. Idaho
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 8,354 or 439.2 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 122.8 per 100K (18th lowest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 2,884 or 152.8 per 100K (18th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 14.5% (12th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 11.8% (13th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.3% (20th lowest)
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34. Maryland
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 30,942 or 440.9 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 128.6 per 100K (20th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 10,911 or 156.6 per 100K (21st lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 13.7% (6th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 7.0% (16th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.3% (22nd highest)
See all stories featuring: Maryland
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33. South Carolina
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 27,313 or 440.9 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 128.3 per 100K (22nd highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 10,356 or 168.1 per 100K (13th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 20.0% (12th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 12.1% (10th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 32.4% (11th highest)
See all stories featuring: South Carolina
32. Vermont
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 3,681 or 442.4 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 130.5 per 100K (15th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 1,356 or 158.9 per 100K (25th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 17.0% (24th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 4.7% (3rd lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.5% (7th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Vermont
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31. Indiana
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 34,260 or 443.0 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 70.4 per 100K (7th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 13,424 or 172.3 per 100K (9th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 21.1% (10th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 9.5% (25th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 32.8% (10th highest)
See all stories featuring: Indiana
30. Washington
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 37,378 or 445.1 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 132.6 per 100K (12th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 12,594 or 152.6 per 100K (17th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 13.9% (7th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 6.9% (15th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.6% (17th lowest)
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29. Missouri
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 33,171 or 446.3 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 68.0 per 100K (9th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 12,696 or 166.8 per 100K (14th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 22.1% (7th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 10.6% (17th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 32.2% (12th highest)
See all stories featuring: Missouri
28. Nebraska
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 9,838 or 446.4 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 127.5 per 100K (24th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 3,477 or 154.1 per 100K (19th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 17.0% (23rd lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 9.7% (23rd highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.2% (17th highest)
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27. Oklahoma
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 20,167 or 447.9 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 63.3 per 100K (15th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 8,115 or 178.5 per 100K (6th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 19.6% (15th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 16.0% (2nd highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 33.3% (7th highest)
See all stories featuring: Oklahoma
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26. North Dakota
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 3,765 or 448.7 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 137.9 per 100K (4th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 1,253 or 143.0 per 100K (9th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 19.8% (13th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 7.6% (21st lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 32.2% (12th highest)
See all stories featuring: North Dakota
25. South Dakota
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 4,612 or 449.5 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 58.2 per 100K (25th lowest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 1,694 or 160.5 per 100K (21st highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 18.1% (19th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 10.4% (18th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.1% (18th highest)
See all stories featuring: South Dakota
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24. Rhode Island
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 5,972 or 450.6 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 68.5 per 100K (8th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 2,171 or 158.4 per 100K (23rd lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 14.4% (11th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 5.1% (6th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.0% (14th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Rhode Island
23. Minnesota
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 29,619 or 455.7 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 128.6 per 100K (20th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 9,857 or 149.3 per 100K (15th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 15.2% (14th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 4.8% (4th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 27.6% (17th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Minnesota
22. Tennessee
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 36,598 or 455.7 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 70.9 per 100K (6th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 14,450 or 180.5 per 100K (4th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 22.1% (8th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 10.6% (16th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 33.0% (9th highest)
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21. Ohio
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 65,645 or 456.1 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 64.9 per 100K (12th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 25,509 or 173.5 per 100K (8th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 22.5% (6th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 6.7% (12th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.8% (15th highest)
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20. Montana
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 6,194 or 456.6 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Prostate: 125.3 per 100K (4th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 2,031 or 148.2 per 100K (12th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 18.5% (18th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 10.0% (20th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.4% (5th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Montana
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19. Kansas
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 15,312 or 457.3 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 132.3 per 100K (13th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 5,484 or 158.9 per 100K (25th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 17.2% (25th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 9.9% (21st highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 33.2% (8th highest)
See all stories featuring: Kansas
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18. Alabama
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 27,195 or 457.8 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 64.2 per 100K (13th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 10,419 or 174.3 per 100K (7th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 21.5% (9th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 10.8% (15th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 35.1% (5th highest)
See all stories featuring: Alabama
17. North Carolina
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 55,394 or 458.4 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 133.9 per 100K (6th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 19,523 or 161.9 per 100K (19th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 17.9% (23rd highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 12.2% (9th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.2% (24th highest)
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16. Wisconsin
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 32,688 or 458.6 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 130.3 per 100K (16th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 11,498 or 159.0 per 100K (24th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 17.1% (25th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 6.3% (9th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 31.1% (18th highest)
See all stories featuring: Wisconsin
15. Illinois
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 68,954 or 462.8 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 133.3 per 100K (7th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 24,389 or 162.1 per 100K (18th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 15.8% (18th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 7.5% (20th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.7% (22nd lowest)
See all stories featuring: Illinois
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14. Connecticut
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 21,117 or 465.5 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 139.0 per 100K (3rd highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 6,696 or 142.4 per 100K (8th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 13.3% (4th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 5.8% (7th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.5% (7th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Connecticut
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13. Mississippi
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 16,265 or 465.8 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 75.0 per 100K (4th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 6,568 or 188.4 per 100K (2nd highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 22.7% (5th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 14.0% (6th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 36.5% (the highest)
See all stories featuring: Mississippi
12. Georgia
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 52,056 or 468.8 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 127.6 per 100K (23rd highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 17,184 or 160.7 per 100K (20th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 17.9% (22nd highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 14.9% (5th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.3% (22nd highest)
See all stories featuring: Georgia
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11. Arkansas
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 17,053 or 469.6 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 76.5 per 100K (2nd highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 6,612 or 178.7 per 100K (5th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 23.6% (3rd highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 9.4% (25th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 35.2% (4th highest)
See all stories featuring: Arkansas
10. West Virginia
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 11,698 or 472.0 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 75.4 per 100K (3rd highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 4,659 or 182.0 per 100K (3rd highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 24.8% (the highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 6.5% (11th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 36.3% (2nd highest)
See all stories featuring: West Virginia
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9. Louisiana
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 25,451 or 473.1 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Prostate: 132.2 per 100K (3rd highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 9,149 or 171.7 per 100K (10th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 22.8% (4th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 11.8% (12th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 35.3% (3rd highest)
See all stories featuring: Louisiana
8. Maine
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 8,901 or 473.4 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 73.5 per 100K (5th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 3,275 or 169.4 per 100K (12th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 19.8% (14th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 10.1% (19th highest)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.4% (25th lowest)
See all stories featuring: Maine
7. Iowa
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 18,146 or 473.6 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 129.4 per 100K (17th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 6,432 or 160.2 per 100K (22nd highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 16.7% (22nd lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 5.0% (5th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 32.2% (12th highest)
See all stories featuring: Iowa
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6. New Jersey
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 51,521 or 474.8 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 133.3 per 100K (7th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 16,377 or 148.5 per 100K (13th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 14.0% (8th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 9.2% (24th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 26.2% (11th lowest)
See all stories featuring: New Jersey
5. New York
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 113,026 or 474.8 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 129.1 per 100K (18th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 35,363 or 145.3 per 100K (10th lowest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 14.2% (9th lowest)
> Residents without health insurance: 7.1% (17th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 25.7% (9th lowest)
See all stories featuring: New York
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4. New Hampshire
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 8,442 or 480.9 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 145.6 per 100K (the highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 2,875 or 163.9 per 100K (17th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 18.0% (20th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 7.2% (18th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 28.0% (18th lowest)
See all stories featuring: New Hampshire
3. Pennsylvania
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 80,089 or 482.5 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Breast cancer (female): 132.8 per 100K (11th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 28,492 or 164.3 per 100K (16th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 18.0% (21st highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 6.8% (14th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 29.9% (25th highest)
See all stories featuring: Pennsylvania
2. Delaware
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 6,001 or 487.2 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 67.1 per 100K (10th highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 2,124 or 170.9 per 100K (11th highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 17.7% (24th highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 6.7% (13th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 30.6% (20th highest)
See all stories featuring: Delaware
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1. Kentucky
> Cancer diagnoses in 2016: 27,137 or 509.7 per 100K
> Most common cancer diagnoses: Lung and bronchus: 86.8 per 100K (the highest)
> Cancer deaths in 2016: 10,363 or 194.2 per 100K (the highest)
> Adults who currently smoke: 24.5% (2nd highest)
> Residents without health insurance: 6.0% (8th lowest)
> Adult obesity rate: 34.2% (6th highest)
See all stories featuring: Kentucky
More than one in three Americans will have cancer in their lifetime. Over the decades since President Richard Nixon declared a war on cancer in 1971, tremendous progress has been made in detecting and treating the disease — but a cure remains elusive.
According to government research group the National Cancer Institute, there will be approximately 1.8 million cancer diagnoses and more than 600,000 deaths from the disease in the United States in 2019. And though there was a 27% decline in cancer death rates between 1991 and 2016, according to the American Cancer Society, diagnoses are expected to rise to nearly 2 million a year by 2020.
When comparing state cancer diagnosis rates, it is important to note that the conditions leading to cancer diagnosis vary by the disease type. In an interview in 2018 with 24/7 Wall St., Eric Feuer, chief of statistical research with the National Cancer Institute, said, “Every different cancer has its own profile of risk factors.”
Alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, as well as income levels, urban living, pollution, and other behaviors and factors, can all increase the risk of a variety of cancers. And some behaviors and factors drive up the incidence of certain cancers more than others. For example, lung cancer, which is more common in low-income populations, is most closely related to smoking rates. Breast cancer, by contrast, which is screened for and diagnosed at higher rates in higher income locales, is associated with obesity more than with smoking as well as other risk factors such as age of first pregnancy.
The different likelihoods of being screened, diagnosed, treated effectively, and surviving cancer mean the states with the highest diagnosis rates do not necessarily have the highest mortality rates. The difference, Feuer explained, is related to “a complicated array of insurance and access to care issues.”
Of all known cancer types, lung-related cancers are the top killers in every state. Of the 25 states with higher cancer mortality rates, all but seven have adult smoking rates that exceed the national rate of approximately 17%.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in every state except for Utah and Mississippi, where prostate cancer is more frequently diagnosed. But breast and prostate cancer, while afflicting relatively more people, are not the deadliest forms of the disease.
Methodology
To identify the incidence of cancer in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the age-adjusted cancer incidence rate in every state from data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate represents the number of new cancer diagnoses during a given time frame (2016) in a given geographic area (state) per 100K people.
The data is from the report, “United States Cancer Statistics: 2000-2016 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report,” produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute, published in June 2019. The percentage of adults who currently smoke in each state was obtained from the 2019 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program, produced by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Total Population, median household income, and educational attainment are from the Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey.
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