Cancer statistics

Cancer Statistics, 2012

Cancer Statistics, 2012
Rebecca Siegel, MPH1; Deepa Naishadham, MA, MS2; Ahmedin Jemal, DVM, PhD3

Abstract
Each year, the American Cancer Society estimates the numbers of new cancer cases and deaths expected in the United States in the current year and compiles the most recent data on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival based on incidence data from theNational Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries and mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics. A total of 1,638,910 new cancer cases and 577,190 deaths from cancer are projected to occur in the United States in 2012. During the most recent 5 years for which there are data (2004-2008), overallcancer incidence rates declined slightly in men (by 0.6% per year) and were stable in women, while cancer death rates decreased by 1.8% per year in men and by 1.6% per year in women. Over the past 10 years of available data (19992008), cancer death rates have declined by more than 1% per year in men and women of every racial/ethnic group with the exception of American Indians/Alaska Natives, amongwhom rates have remained stable. The most rapid declines in death rates occurred among African American and Hispanic men (2.4% and 2.3% per year, respectively). Death rates continue to decline for all 4 major cancer sites (lung, colorectum, breast, and prostate), with lung cancer accounting for almost 40% of the total decline in men and breast cancer accounting for 34% of the total decline inwomen. The reduction in overall cancer death rates since 1990 in men and 1991 in women translates to the avoidance of about 1,024,400 deaths from cancer. Further progress can be accelerated by applying existing cancer control knowledge across all segments of the population, with an emphasis on those groups in the lowest socioecoC nomic bracket. CA Cancer J Clin 2012;62:10–29. V 2012 American CancerSociety.

Introduction
Cancer is a major public health problem in the United States and many other parts of the world. One in 4 deaths in the United States is due to cancer. In this article, we provide the expected numbers of new cancer cases and deaths in 2012 nationally and by state, as well as an overview of current cancer statistics using data through 2008, including incidence, mortality, andsurvival rates and trends. We also estimate the total number of deaths averted as a result of the decline in cancer death rates since the early 1990s, and provide the reported number of cancer deaths in 2008 by age for the 5 leading cancer types.

Materials and Methods
Incidence and Mortality Data
Mortality data from 1930 to 2008 in the United States were obtained from the National Center forHealth Statistics (NCHS).1,2 There are several sources for cancer incidence data. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute reports long-term (beginning in 1973), highquality, population-based incidence data covering up to 26% of the US population. Cancer incidence rates for long-term trends (1975-2008), 5-year relative survival rates(2001-2007), and estimations of the lifetime
1

Manager, Surveillance Information, Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA; 2Epidemiologist, Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA; 3Vice President, Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA.

Corresponding author: Rebecca Siegel, MPH, Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society, 250Williams St, NW, Atlanta, GA 30303-1002; Rebecca.siegel@cancer.org DISCLOSURES: The authors report no conflicts of interest. We thank Carol DeSantis in Surveillance Research at the American Cancer Society for providing analytic assistance.
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2012 American Cancer Society, Inc. doi:10.3322/caac.20138.

Available online at http://cacancerjournal.com

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