United States Cancer Statistics: 1999-2005 Incidence and Mortality

In February 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services released US Cancer Statistics: 1999-2005 Incidence and Mortality, the most comprehensive federal report available on state-specific cancer rates. This year's report features information on more than one million cases of cancer diagnosed in 2005 among residents of 48 states, 6 metropolitan areas, and the District of Columbia—geographic areas in which about 96% of the U.S. population reside. Mortality statistics, based on records of deaths that occurred during 2005, are available for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report supplies essential state, population, racial, ethnic and gender information for tailored cancer prevention and control programs nationwide.

United States Cancer Statistics: 1999-2005 Incidence and Mortality marks the seventh time the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), in collaboration with the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR), have combined data to produce federal cancer statistics. The annual report provides a basis for individual states and researchers to describe the variability in cancer incidence and death rates across different populations and to focus on certain populations for evidence-based cancer control programs.