United States Cancer Statistics
Mortality Incidence Rate Ratios
United States 1999 - 2016, and
Puerto Rico 2005-2016

Summary

Summary:    Cancer incidence and mortality statistics are available for the United States, state and metropolitan areas (MSA) by race, sex, year and leading cancer site for the years 1999 - 2016. Data are available for Puerto Rico by age group, sex and cancer site for the years 2005 - 2016. Output includes the number of cases diagnosed, the number of deaths, age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates, incidence and mortality rate ratios, and the population figures used to calculate rates.
Source:   

The United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) are the official federal statistics on cancer incidence from registries having high-quality data and cancer mortality statistics for 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. USCS are produced by 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). For a list of all USCS contributors and partners, visit USCS Contributors.

Incidence data are provided by:

Mortality data are provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Vital Statistics System (NVSS).

About mortality incidence rate ratios:

  • For consistency with the data on cancer incidence, the cancer sites in mortality data were grouped according to the revised SEER recodes dated March 1, 2018 (see SEER Cause of Death Recodes). Because NCHS uses different groupings for some sites, the death rates in this report may differ slightly from those published by NCHS. In addition, under the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), there are differences in mortality and incidence coding. For example, there are several codes for mesothelioma in ICD-10 (depending on the primary site). However in ICD-O-3, one code captures all of the primary sites that mesothelioma affects. Because the vast majority of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) cases have developed in association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), HIV/AIDS is listed as the underlying cause of death. Therefore, KS death rates were not included.
  • Caution should be used when interpreting these Mortality Incidence Rate Ratios as coding for death certificates and cancer incidence records may vary significantly. The cancer incidence records are likely to be coded to a more specific topographic site which may give a false impression of an elevated rate ratio. Ratio values greater than 1 are flagged as "Unreliable."
  • The population used to age-adjust the rates in this report is the 2000 U.S. standard population, which is in accordance with a 1998 recommendation of the US. Department of Health and Human Services. The 2000 U.S. standard population is based on the proportion of the 2000 population in specific age groups (younger than 1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-14 years, 15-19 years, . . . 85 years or older); the proportions of the 2000 population in these age groups serve as weights for calculating age-adjusted incidence and death rates. NCHS, however, uses a different set of age groups in its age adjustment of death rates, and thus the cancer death rates in this report may differ slightly from those published by NCHS.
  • Deaths of persons of unknown age are not included in this data set. Death counts and rates may differ slightly from other reports where deaths of persons of unknown age are included.


In WONDER:    You can produce tables, maps, charts, and data extracts. Obtain death counts, crude rates, age-adjusted rates, 95% confidence intervals for rates, and standard errors for rates. select specific disease and demographic criteria to produce cross-tabulated mortality measures. Data are organized into three levels of geographic detail: national, state and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). The population estimates used as the denominator for rate calculations are also shown. You can limit and index your data by any and all of these variables:
  1. Location - Regions and Divisions, or States, or Metropolitan Areas (MSA)
  2. Year - 1999-2016 (2005-2016 for Puerto Rico)
  3. Race - All, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, White (not available for Puerto Rico)
  4. Ethnicity - Hispanic, Non-Hispanic, Unknown or Missing (not available for Puerto Rico)
  5. Sex - Female, Male
  6. Leading Cancer Sites
  7. Cancer Sites

The following statistical measures are available as query results:

  1. Mortality Incidence Rate Ratio
  2. Deaths (optional)
  3. Mortality Population (optional)
  4. Mortality Age-Adjusted Rate (optional)
  5. Incidence (Cases) (optional)
  6. Incidence Population (optional)
  7. Incidence Age-Adjusted Rate (optional)

Contents:   

United States Cancer Statistics: Mortality Incidence Rate Ratios Data Request
Data Source Information
Additional Information

United States Cancer Statistics Data Request

Output:    You can produce tables, maps, charts, and data extracts. Obtain death counts, age-adjusted and crude death rates, 95% confidence intervals and standard errors for rates, calculated from the United States Cancer Statistics public information data. The population estimates used as the denominator for rate calculations are also shown.
Variables:    You can limit and index your data by any and all of the variables.
How?    The Request screen has sections to guide you through the making a data request as step-by-step process. However, to get your first taste of how the system works, you might want to simply press any Send button, and execute the default data request. The data results for your query appear on the Table screen. After you get your data results, try the Chart and Map screens. Or export your data to a file (tab-delimited line listing) for download to your computer.
For more information, see the following:
Quick Start Guide;
Step 1, Organize table layout;
Step 2, Select location;
Step 3, Select year and demographics;
Step 4, Select cancers of interest;
Step 5, Other Options.
'By-Variables'    Select variables that serve as keys (indexes) for organizing your data. See How do I organize my data? for more information.
Notes:  
  • To map your data, you must "Group Results By" a geographical location, such as "States," in section 1 on the "Request Form" tab.
  • Metropolitan areas (MSA) do not combine with Regions, Divisions and States. For example, you cannot group results by State, and limit your data to selected MSA locations in the same query.
  • To include Puerto Rico's data, you must select the "States and Puerto Rico" button in section 2 on the "Request Form" tab. When the "States," "Regions," or "MSA" buttons are selected, then Puerto Rico's data are not included.
  • The "Group Results By" selections cannot include "Race" nor "Ethnicity" when you have requested Puerto Rico's data, by selecting the "States and Puerto Rico" button in section 2 on the "Request Form" tab.
Help:    Click on any button labeled "Help," located to the right hand side of the screen at the top of each section. Each control's label, such as the "Location" label next to the Location entry box, is linked to the on-line help for that item.
Send:    Sends your data request to be processed on the CDC WONDER databases. The Send buttons are located on the bottom of the Request page, and also in the upper right corner of each section, for easy access.

Step 1. Organize table layout:
Group Results By:    Select up to five variables that serve as keys for grouping your data. See Group Results By below for hints.
Select Optional Measures:    Select the checkbox to include optional measures in your report. Mortality Incidence Rate Ratios are reported by default.
Title:    Enter any desired description to display as a title with your results.

Note:   See About Requesting Data for Puerto Rico below, in the Group Results By section.

Group Results By...

Select up to five variables that serve as keys for grouping your data. For example, you could select to group (summarize, stratify, index) your data by Location (State or MSA) and Race.

How?    See How do I organize my data? for more information.

Hints:   

  1. About genital system cancers:
    When generating a report by primary site, it is appropriate to either select cases by sex or generate a report by sex. By default this program includes population data for both sexes in the rate calculations. However, sex-specific population denominators are used to calculate rates for sex-specific cancers such as prostate, ovary or cervix. For a complete list of sex-specific cancers, see breast and genital system cancers.
  2. When age-adjusted rates are calculated, you cannot group the data by Age Group.
  3. You cannot group the data by both State and by MSA. You can group by State only when you have chosen State locations. You can group by MSA only when you have chosen MSA locations.
  4. About charts:
    You cannot make charts when your data has more than two selections in the "Group Results By" lists in section 1 on the "Request Form" tab.
  5. About maps:
    To make a map, you must "Group Results By" a geographic location, such as "State," section 1 on the "Request Form" tab. After you get the results to your query, then click the "Map" tab.
  6. About requesting data for Puerto Rico:
    • You cannot select "Race" or "Ethnicity", in the "Group Results By" list in section 1 on the "Request Form" tab when requesting data for Puerto Rico.
    • Data for Puerto Rico are requested in section 2 on the Request Form, by clicking the round button for "States and Puerto Rico."
    • When the "States and Puerto Rico" list is selected in section 2 on the Request Form, then Race and Ethnicity categories are not shown in section 3 on the Request Form.
Mortality Incidence Rate Ratio

The Mortality Incidence Rate Ratio figures, also known as mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) are calculated by dividing the mortality rate by the incidence rate, for the selected cancers and population. The mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) provides a population-based indicator of survival. For more information, see About Mortality Incidence Rate Ratios.

Incidence Counts (Cases)

The number of diagnoses of cancer in living persons, the frequency count of diagnoses for the given category, is shown in the Incidence Counts column. Cancer case reports in this data set are counted by or summed by the cancer reported. For example, a single person with more than one primary cancer verified by a medical doctor is counted as a case report for each type of primary cancer reported. Having more than one primary cancer occurs in less than 20% of the population. The incidence counts report the frequency of verified cancer diagnoses in the selected population and time period. Incidence data are provided by:

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR)
  • The National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program

Death Counts

The number of deaths, the frequency count of deaths for the given category, is shown in the Deaths column. Cancer deaths are based on information from all death certificates in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico and processed by the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

Age-Adjusted Rates for Incidence and Mortality

Age-adjusted rates are calculated with age distribution ratios from the Year 2000 "standard million" population, and the rates are shown per 100,000 population.

An age-adjusted rate is a weighted average of the age-specific (crude) rates, where the weights are the proportions of persons in the corresponding age groups of a standard million population. The potential confounding effect of age is reduced when comparing age-adjusted rates computed using the same standard million population.

For more information on how age-adjusted rates are calculated, see:

Notes:
  • Deaths of persons of unknown age are not included in this data set. Death counts, crude death rates and age-adjusted death rates may differ slightly from other reports where deaths of persons of unknown age are included.
  • About populations:
    • The population used to age-adjust the rates in this data set is the 2000 U.S. standard population, which is in accordance with a 1998 recommendation of the US. Department of Health and Human Services. The 2000 U.S. standard population is based on the proportion of the 2000 population in specific age groups (younger than 1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-14 years, 15-19 years, . . . 85 years or older); the proportions of the 2000 population in these age groups serve as weights for calculating age-adjusted incidence and death rates.
    • Cancer death rates on this website may differ slightly from those published by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) because NCHS uses age groups as recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in its adjustment of death rates.
    • The data published here should not be compared with cancer death rates adjusted to different standard populations.
    • Death rates are also influenced by the choice of population denominators used in calculating the rates. Because some state health departments use customized state population projections when calculating incidence and death rates, the rates published here may differ slightly from those published by individual states.
    • Note that the weights used to calculate age-adjusted rates are derived from the specific populations selected as data request criteria. For example, if you limit your request to specific age groups, then the weights are calculated to represent the selected population.
  • About cancer sites:    For consistency with the data on cancer incidence, the cancer sites in mortality data were grouped according to the revised SEER recodes for ICD-10 cause of death classifications, dated March 1, 2018 (see SEER Cause of Death Recode). Because the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) uses different groupings of cause of death codes for some cancer site classifications, the death rates in this report may differ slightly from those published by NCHS.


How are age-adjusted rates calculated?

The age-adjusted rate is calculated by multiplying the age-specific rate for each age group by the corresponding weight from the specified standard population, then summing across all age groups, and then multiplying this result by 100,000.

Age-Adjusted Rate = (Sum of (Each Age Specific Rate * Each Standard Population Weight) )* 100,000

The age-specific rate is the number of incidents for a given age group, divided by the population of that age group.

Number of incidents in age group
Age Specific Rate =
Population of age group

The "standard population weight" for an age group is calculated by dividing the population for the age group by the sum of the populations for all of the age groups in the query.

Population for age group
Standard Population Weight =
Sum of populations for all age groups

What standard population weights are used for age-adjusted rate calculations?

Note that the weights used to calculate age-adjusted rates are derived from the specific populations selected as data request criteria. For example, if you limit your request to specific age groups, then the weights are calculated to represent the selected population.

What are the age-specific populations for the standard populations?

Refer to the following tables to see the age-specific populations for the various "standard million" populations.

2000 US Standard Million Population
	
  	  	Standard    	
Age Group   	Population	Weight	

00-00 years	 13,818		0.013818
01-04 years	 55,317		0.055317
05-09 years	 72,533		0.072533
10-14 years	 73,032		0.073032
15-19 years	 72,169		0.072169
20-24 years	 66,478		0.066478
25-29 years	 64,529		0.064529
30-34 years	 71,044		0.071044
35-39 years	 80,762		0.080762
40-44 years	 81,851		0.081851
45-49 years	 72,118		0.072118
50-54 years	 62,716		0.062716
55-59 years	 48,454		0.048454
60-64 years	 38,793		0.038793
65-69 years	 34,264		0.034264
70-74 years	 31,773		0.031773
75-79 years	 26,999		0.026999
80-84 years	 17,842		0.017842
85+ years	 15,508		0.015508
1970 US Standard Million Population
	
 	 	  	Standard    
	Age Group   	Population	Weight		

	00-00 years 	 17,151		0.017151
	01-04 years	 67,265		0.067265
	05-09 years 	 98,204		0.098204
	10-14 years	102,304		0.102304
	20-24 years	 80,561		0.080561
	25-39 years	 66,320		0.066320
	30-34 years	 56,249		0.056249
	35-39 years	 54,656		0.054656
	40-44 years	 58,958		0.058958
	45-49 years	 59,622		0.059622
	50-54 years	 54,643		0.054643
	55-59 years	 49,077		0.049077
	60-64 years	 42,403		0.042403
	65-69 years	 34,406		0.034406
	70-74 years	 26,789		0.026789
	75-79 years	 18,871		0.018871
	80-84 years	 11,241		0.011241
	85+ years	  7,435		0.007435
1940 US Standard Million Population
	
  	  	Standard    
Age Group   	Population	Weight	

00-00 years	 15,343		0.015343
01-04 years	 64,718		0.064718
05-09 years	 81,147		0.081147
10-14 years	 89,208		0.089208
15-19 years	 93,670		0.093670
20-24 years	 88,007		0.088007
25-29 years	 84,277		0.084277
30-34 years	 77,789		0.077789
35-39 years	 72,495		0.072495
40-44 years	 66,742		0.066742
45-49 years	 62,697		0.062697
50-54 years	 55,114		0.055114
55-59 years	 44,383		0.044383
60-64 years	 35,911		0.035911
65-69 years	 28,911		0.028911
70-74 years	 19,515		0.019515
75-79 years	 11,422		0.011422
80-84 years	  5,881		0.005881
85+ years	  2,770		0.002770
2000 World Standard Million Population
	
 	  	Standard    
Age Group   	Population	Weight		

00-00 years	 24,000		0.024000
01-04 years	 96,000		0.096000
05-09 years	100,000		0.100000
10-14 years	 90,000		0.090000
15-19 years	 90,000		0.090000
20-24 years	 80,000		0.080000
25-29 years	 80,000		0.080000
30-34 years	 60,000		0.060000
35-39 years	 60,000		0.060000
40-44 years	 60,000		0.060000
45-49 years 	 60,000		0.060000
50-54 years 	 50,000		0.050000
55-59 years	 40,000		0.040000
60-64 years	 40,000		0.040000
65-69 years	 30,000		0.030000
70-74 years 	 20,000		0.020000
75-79 years 	 10,000		0.010000
80-84 years	  5,000		0.005000
85+ years	  5,000		0.005000
Step 2. Select location:
Select the place of interest: Select the place of interest from one of the following lists:
  1. States in the US
  2. Regions include Divisions and States in the US
  3. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) in the US
  4. States and Puerto Rico
Click the round button to the right of the list's name to display the list.

Regions and Divisions

Regions and Divisions are multi-state groups. For regional data, you can group by Region, or you can select any combination of individual regions. You can also select multi-state divisions or any combination of individual states.
How? Hints:
  • The default is all values (the United States).
  • The Advanced mode let you easily pick several items from different parts of the list. Items are not selected until you click the "Move" button in Advanced mode. You may also enter values by hand, one code per line, in the Advanced mode. Use the Finder to see the correct code format. For example, 02 is the Alaska state code.
  • The "plus" symbol, "+" indicates that you can open the item, to see more items below it.
  • The results to a search are shown in blue, and indicated by ">".
Notes:  
  • Region is based on the person's legal state of residence at the time the case was submitted to the registry.
  • The Regions are identified by both name and codes in data extracts.
  • The United States is split into 4 regions: Northeast, Midwest, South and West. To see the Divisions and States that comprise the regions, send a request for data grouped by Region, Division and State. Choose to "Show Zero Values" in order to also see the names of the states which have been omitted from this data set. For more information, see the section below titled "About Missing Data."

States / States and Puerto Rico

Pick the United States or any combination of individual states desired. Be sure the button for State above the list is set to your choice.
How?   See Radio Button to pick your preferred list. See How do I select items from the list box? to select specific options in the list.
Notes:  
  • State and MSA data are based on the patient's residence at the time the case was submitted to the registry. All deaths records in this data set include values for state and for MSA.
  • Note that comparisons of the national death counts and rates with other published reports may differ.
  • The codes and labels for each state shown in separate columns in the data export files. To see the entire list of included states with labels and Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code values, group by State and by Year. Choose to "Show Zero Values" in order to also see the names of the states and years which have been omitted from this data set.
  • About missing data:  
    The data do not include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for every year. The data shown for "The United States" are the total of all states included in the data set in the selected time period. More information about the missing locations:
    • Cancer registries were required to meet specific data quality criteria for their cancer incidence statistics to be included in this report. Only registries whose data met these specified criteria were included. See USCS Registry Eligibility Criteria for more information.
    • Mortality data are reported to NCHS for 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for all years. However, this data set omits death records from those locations and states that are omitted in the incidence data.
    • These states are missing data for the indicated year in the 1999-2016 cancer data:
      State Year(s)
      Arkansas 1999-2000
      Mississippi 1999-2002
      South Dakota 1999-2000
      Puerto Rico 1999-2004
  • The Race and Ethnicity categories are not shown on the "Request Form" tab, when the round button is selected to show the "States and Puerto Rico" list in the "Select Locations" section on the "Request Form" tab.

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Pick "The United States" or any combination of individual MSAs desired. Be sure the button for State above the list is set to your choice.
How?   See Radio Button to pick your preferred list. See How do I select items from the list box? to select specific options in the list.
Metropolitan statistical areas are defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The MSA definitions apply to all areas except the six New England states; for these states, the New England County Metropolitan Areas (NECMAs) are used. Metropolitan areas are named for a central city in the MSA or NECMA, may include several cities and counties, and may cross state boundaries. Further information about MSAs can be found on the U.S. Census Bureau website at www.census.gov; search for "Metropolitan Statistical Area."

Notes:  

  • State and MSA data are based on the patient's residence at the time of death. All deaths records in this data set include values for state and for MSA.
  • Note that comparisons of the national death counts and rates with other published reports may differ.
  • Data for some MSAs are not specified. Cells representing these specific locations display a "Missing" label. Data that are missing in either the mortality or incidence data are designated as missing in combined data for Mortality Incidence Rate Ratios. The missing metropolitan locations are documented here:
  • The codes and labels for each state shown in separate columns in data export files. To see the entire list of metropolitan areas with labels and code values, group by MSA and by Year.

Step 3. Select year and demographics :
Limit your data for any of the following data elements:
  1. Year - 1999-2016 (2005-2016 for Puerto Rico)
  2. Race - All, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, White (not available for Puerto Rico)
  3. Ethnicity - Hispanic, Non-Hispanic, Unknown or Missing (not available for Puerto Rico)
  4. Sex - Female, Male

Note: The Race and Ethnicity categories are not shown on the "Request Form" tab, when the round button is selected to show the "States and Puerto Rico" list in the "Select Locations" section on the "Request Form" tab.

Year

Pick any combination of years desired. Data are available for 1999-2016 for the United States, and for 2005-2016 for Puerto Rico.
How?   See How do I select items from the list box?.

Sex

Select All or any combination of values.
How?   See How do I select items from the list box?.

Note:

  • About genital system cancers:
    Note that genital system cancers and breast cancers are sex-specific. The rates and population denominators for calculating rates represent the associated sex for the cancer site. Cells representing data for the other sex are labeled "Not Applicable." See About Genital System Cancers for more information.

The following table shows the age group code values and descriptions, as specified for data export.

Code   Description
F Female
M Male

Race

Select All or any combination of values.

How?   See How do I select items from the list box?.
Notes:
  • The "All" races option sums all racial categories included in the data:   "American Indian or Alaska Native," "Asian or Pacific Islander," "Black or African American," and "White."
  • Race categories are not available for Puerto Rico.
  • The data are coded to Public Health Information Network (PHIN) standard code values. The following table shows the race code values and descriptions, as specified for data export.
Code   Description
1002-5    American Indian or Alaska Native
A-PI    Asian or Pacific Islander
2054-5    Black or African American
2106-3    White

Ethnicity

Select All or any combination of values.

How?   See How do I select items from the list box?.
Notes:
  • Rates are not calculated for the "Unknown" category because population data are not available. The phrase "Not Applicable" is shown for in the rate and population cells.
  • Ethnicity categories are not available for Puerto Rico.
  • The data are coded to Public Health Information Network (PHIN) standard code values. The following table shows the race code values and descriptions, as specified for data export.
    Code   Description
    2135-2    Hispanic
    2186-5    Non-Hispanic
    UNK    Unknown or Missing


Step 4. Select cancers of interest:
Limit your data for any of the following data elements:
  1. Leading Cancer Sites
  2. Cancer Sites

Cancer Sites

Select either "All Cancer Sites Combined" or "All Cancer Sites," or select any combination of the other values.
How?   See How do I select items from the list box?.
Notes:
  • The primary cancer site is the organ of origin within the body where a given cancer occurs in an individual.
  • About All Sites Combined:
    "All Cancer Sites Combined" are the summary or combined aggregate total for all Cancer sites. The "Show Totals" control on the Table screen is disabled when aggregate values are displayed. Note that pies charts and data distributions in maps are affected by the inclusion of the "All Cancer Sites Combined" aggregate data.
  • About breast and genital system cancers:
    When generating a report by primary site, it is appropriate to either select cases by sex or generate a report by sex. By default this program includes population data for both sexes in the calculations. However, the sex-specific cancers such as prostate, ovary or cervix calculate sex-specific rates, using sex-specific population denominators. Cells representing sex-specific cancer data for the opposite sex are labeled "Not Applicable." Sex-specific cancers include breast cancers and those sites under genital system in the cancer site list

    The Cancer Site sex-specific cancers are:

    Female Genital System
        Cervix Uteri
        Corpus Uteri
        Uterus, Not Otherwise Specified
        Ovary
        Vagina
        Vulva
        Other Female Genital Organs
    Male Genital System
        Prostate
        Testis
        Penis
        Other Male Genital Organs
    Breast cancers:
        Female Breast
        Male Breast
  • For consistency with the data on cancer incidence, the cancer sites in mortality data were grouped according to the revised SEER recodes dated March 1, 2018 (see SEER Cause of Death Recodes). Because the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) uses different groupings for some sites, the death rates in this report may differ slightly from those published by NCHS.

The following table shows the Cancer Site code values and descriptions, as specified for data export. Whenever applicable, the revised SEER Cause of Death Recodes dated March 1, 2018 are used.

Code    Description
0    All Cancer Sites Combined
20010-20100    Oral Cavity and Pharynx
20010        Lip
20020        Tongue
20030        Salivary Gland
20040        Floor of Mouth
20050        Gum and Other Mouth
20060        Nasopharynx
20070        Tonsil
20080        Oropharynx
20090        Hypopharynx
20100        Other Oral Cavity and Pharynx
21010-21130    Digestive System
21010        Esophagus
21020        Stomach
21030        Small Intestine
21041-21052        Colon and Rectum
21041-21049           Colon excluding Rectum
21051-21052              Rectum and Rectosigmoid Junction
21060        Anus, Anal Canal and Anorectum
21071-21072        Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct
21071           Liver
21072           Intrahepatic Bile Duct
21080        Gallbladder
21090        Other Biliary
21100        Pancreas
21110        Retroperitoneum
21120        Peritoneum, Omentum and Mesentery
21130        Other Digestive Organs
22010-22060    Respiratory System
22010        Nose, Nasal Cavity and Middle Ear
22020        Larynx
22030        Lung and Bronchus
22050        Pleura
22060        Trachea, Mediastinum and Other Respiratory Organs
23000    Bones and Joints
24000    Soft Tissue including Heart
25010-25020    Skin excluding Basal and Squamous
25010        Melanoma of the Skin
25020        Other Non-Epithelial Skin
26000    Male and Female Breast
26000-Female        Female Breast
26000-Male        Male Breast
27010-27070    Female Genital System
27010        Cervix Uteri
27020        Corpus Uteri
27030        Uterus, not otherwise specified (NOS)
27040        Ovary
27050        Vagina
27060        Vulva
27070        Other Female Genital Organs
28010-28040    Male Genital System
28010        Prostate
28020        Testis
28030        Penis
28040        Other Male Genital Organs
29010-29040    Urinary System
29010        Urinary Bladder
29020        Kidney and Renal Pelvis
29030        Ureter
29040        Other Urinary Organs
30000    Eye and Orbit
31010-31040    Brain and Other Nervous System
32010-32020    Endocrine System
32010        Thyroid
32020        Other Endocrine including Thymus
33011-33042    Lymphomas
33011-33012        Hodgkin lymphoma
33041-33042        Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
34000    Myeloma
35011-35043    Leukemias
35011        Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
35012        Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
35021        Acute Myeloid Leukemia
35022        Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
35041-35043        Other Leukemias
35013           Other Lymphocytic Leukemia
35031           Acute Monocytic Leukemia
35041           Other Acute Leukemia
35043           Aleukemic, Subleukemic and not otherwise specified (NOS)
35023           Other Myeloid/Monocytic Leukemia
36010    Mesothelioma
37000    Miscellaneous

Leading Cancer Sites (by Race and Sex)

Select either "All Leading Sites Combined" or "All Leading Sites," or select any combination of the other values.
How?   See How do I select items from the list box?.
Notes:
  • This list contains only the top or leading cancer sites, meaning the primary cancers with the highest incidence for each race and sex.
  • The primary cancer site is the organ of origin within the body where a given cancer occurs in an individual.
  • About All Sites Combined:
    "All Leading Sites Combined" are the summary or combined aggregate total for all Cancer sites. The "Show Totals" control on the Table screen is disabled when aggregate values are displayed. Note that pies charts and data distributions in maps are affected by the inclusion of the "All Leading Sites Combined" aggregate data.
  • About sex-specific cancers:
    Note that genital system cancers (Cancer Site codes 47 - 57) are sex-specific, thus rates and population denominators represent the associated sex. Cells representing data for the opposite sex display a "Not Applicable" label. The following genital system cancers are included in the Leading Cancers Sites list:
    Cervix Uteri (Cancer Site code 47)
    Corpus Uteri (Cancer Site code 48)
    Ovary (Cancer Site code 50)
    Prostate (Cancer Site code 54)

The following table shows the Leading Cancer Sites code values and descriptions, as specified for data export. Whenever applicable, the revised SEER Cause of Death Recodes dated March 1, 2018 are used.

Code    Description
31010-31040    Brain and Other Nervous System 
26000    Breast *
27010    Cervix Uteri 
21041-21052    Colon and Rectum 
27020    Corpus Uteri 
21010    Esophagus 
21080    Gallbladder 
29020    Kidney and Renal Pelvis 
22020    Larynx 
35011-35043    Leukemias 
21071    Liver 
22030    Lung and Bronchus 
25010    Melanoma of the Skin 
34000    Myeloma 
33041-33042    Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 
20010-20100    Oral Cavity and Pharynx 
27040    Ovary 
21100    Pancreas 
28010    Prostate 
21020    Stomach 
32010    Thyroid 
29010    Urinary Bladder 
  *  Data for in situ Breast Cancers are not included in this dataset.

Step 5. Other options:
Export Results:    If checked, then query results are exported to a local file. More information on how to import this file into other applications can be found here.
Show Totals:    If checked totals and sub-totals will appear in the results table.
Show Zero Values:    If checked, then rows containing zero counts (no deaths) will appear in the results table. If unchecked, zero count rows are suppressed.
Precision:    Select the precision for rate calculations. When the rate calculated for a small numerator (death count) is zero, you may increase the precision to reveal the rate by showing more numbers to the right of the decimal point.
Data Access Timeout:    This value specifies the maximum time to wait for the data access for a query to complete. If the data access takes too long to complete, a message will be displayed and you can increase the timeout or simplify your request. If you can't complete a request using the maximum timeout, contact user support and we will try to run a custom data request for you.
Populations for Age-Adjusted Rates:    Select the standard population used to calculate age-adjusted rates. See Age-Adjusted Rates for more information.

Data Source Information

Data Sources:   

The United States Cancer Statistics are the official government statistics on cancer. These statistics include cancer registry data from CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, as well as mortality data from CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. The statistics provide information on newly diagnosed cancer cases and cancer deaths for the whole U.S. population. For a list of all USCS contributors and partners, visit USCS Contributors.

Incidence data are provided by:

Mortality data are produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Vital Statistics System (NVSS).

To learn more about the methods and source of these data please refer to:

Population Denominator Data Sources:   

United States:

The population estimates for the denominators of mortality rates are race-specific (American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, White) and sex-specific county population estimates aggregated to the state or metropolitan area level. The population estimates are a slight modification of the annual time series of July 1 county population estimates (by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin) produced by the Population Estimates Program of the U.S. Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) with support from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) through an interagency agreement.

The 1999 population estimates are consistent with the 1990-1999 are bridged-race intercensal population estimates of the July 1 resident population. The 2000-2009 population estimates are consistent with the 2000-2009 series of bridged-race intercensal population estimates of the July 1 resident population, with the exception of year 2005. The 2010 -2016 population estimates are consistent with the 2010-2017 series of bridged-race postcensal population estimates of the July 1 resident population, in the 1999-2016 USCS data set.

In general, July 1 population estimates are used to calculate annual death rates because these estimates are considered to reflect the average population of a defined geographic area for a calendar year. However, the populations of many counties along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas were displaced in the fall of 2005 by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

For the year 2005, the population estimates were adjusted to account for the displacement of people in these states. The national total population estimates are not affected by these adjustments. The 2005 population estimates that were used for mortality data are different from the 2005 population estimates used for incidence data. See the 2005 USCS technical notes at Data Visualizations Tool Technical Notes for more information.

Note that the national and regional populations in WONDER are based on totals of the state populations. The state, regional and national populations for USCS data in WONDER are consistent with the "SEER*Stat" mortality populations for year 2005 produced by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). However, the USCS website has slightly higher national populations for the 2005 national population, due to adjustments for displacement after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These differences (203,937 persons) affect rates calculated for at the national level for year 2005.

For more information on the Census Bureau's population estimates and documentation of the procedures used to develop them, see SEER - US Population Data.

Puerto Rico:

Population estimates used in the calculation of Puerto Rico incidence and death rates are sex-specific, and are not available by race or ethnicity. Population estimates for Puerto Rico for years 2005-2009 are July 1st intercensal estimates of the resident population by sex and age for Puerto Rico, years 2000-2010, released by the U.S. Census Bureau Population Division in September 2011. Population estimates for Puerto Rico for years 2010-2016 are July 1st postcensal estimates of the resident population by sex and age for United States and Puerto Rico Commonwealth, years 2010-2017, released by the U.S. Census Bureau Population Division, June 2018.

Additional Information

Suggested Data Source Citations:    United States Cancer Statistics - Mortality Incidence Rate Ratios: 1999-2016, WONDER Online Database. United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2019.
Contact:    USCSData@CDC.gov
Confidentiality:    The following rules are applied in order to protect personal privacy:
  • Death counts and rates are suppressed when the count is less than 16 persons.
  • Data for the "Asian or Pacific Islander" and "American Indian or Alaska Native" race categories are suppressed at the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) level for populations less than 50,000 persons.
  • Data are suppressed at the state and MSA level for certain race and ethnicity groups:
    1. American Indian or Alaska Native data are suppressed at the state and MSA level for Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, New Jersey, and New York;
    2. Asian or Pacific Islander data are suppressed at the state and MSA level for Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, and Kentucky;
    3. Hispanic data are suppressed at the state and MSA level for Delaware, and Kentucky.
    4. Race by ethnicity data are suppressed at the state level and MSA for Kansas, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
See Also:   



This page last reviewed: Wednesday, March 18, 2020
This information is provided as technical reference material. Please contact us at cwus@cdc.gov.