Cancer

Data sourcing

CDC WONDER

The CDC's Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) provides access to the United States Cancer Statistics (USCS), the official federal statistics on cancer incidence compiled from high-quality registries through the CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program. The dataset covers 1999-2022 and allows users to explore data by location, demographics, and cancer type, providing incidence counts, crude rates, and age-adjusted rates to support public health surveillance and policy decisions.

CDC BRFSS

For cancer screening adherence data, we use the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the nation's largest continuously conducted health survey. BRFSS collects state-level data on preventive health services, including cancer screenings, through telephone surveys of U.S. residents across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and three U.S. territories.

Cancer incidence data coverage varies by state and year. While most recent data covers 100% of the U.S. population, earlier years exclude certain states (Mississippi 1999-2002, South Dakota 1999-2000), and Puerto Rico data is only available from 2005 onward. It's important to note that because BRFSS is survey-based, it sometimes lacks sufficient data for smaller or marginalized racial groups, making some estimates less statistically robust.

• Breast cancer cases (Female population): race/ethnicity: Available; age: Available; sex: Not available
• Cervical cancer cases (Female population): race/ethnicity: Available; age: Available; sex: Not available
• Colorectal cancer cases: race/ethnicity: Available; age: Available; sex: Available
• Lung cancer cases: race/ethnicity: Available; age: Available; sex: Available
• Prostate cancer cases (Male population): race/ethnicity: Available; age: Available; sex: Not available

Breast cancer cases

Measurement definition: The number of new cases of breast cancer diagnosed among female patients within a specific time period.

Clinical importance: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, with incidence and outcomes varying significantly across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Black women are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages and with more aggressive subtypes, contributing to higher mortality despite similar or lower overall incidence compared to white women. This data reflects sex as recorded in medical records at the time of diagnosis rather than gender identity. As a result, transgender men and nonbinary people with breast tissue may be miscategorized or excluded from surveillance, leading to undercounts that obscure their cancer risk and care needs. Gaps in gender-inclusive cancer surveillance are themselves a health equity issue.

Cervical cancer cases

Measurement definition: The number of new cases of cervical cancer diagnosed among female patients within a specific time period. National- and state-level figures are from CDC WONDER and reflect crude rates that are not age-adjusted.

Clinical importance: Cervical cancer is largely preventable through HPV vaccination, regular Pap and HPV screening, and timely follow-up care, yet diagnosis rates vary significantly by race, ethnicity, and geography, reflecting deeper inequities in access to these essential interventions. This data reflects sex as recorded in medical records at the time of diagnosis rather than gender identity. As a result, transgender men and nonbinary people with a cervix may be miscategorized or excluded from surveillance, leading to undercounts that obscure their cancer risk and care needs. Gaps in gender-inclusive cancer surveillance are themselves a health equity issue. Tracking these disparities at the national, state, and county level helps identify where systemic barriers persist and where targeted action is needed to advance health justice for the communities most affected.

Colorectal cancer cases

Measurement definition: The number of new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed within a specific time period.

Clinical importance: Colorectal cancer is largely preventable through timely screening, yet access to colonoscopies and follow-up care remains deeply unequal across race, income, and geography. Black Americans face higher incidence and mortality rates than white Americans, driven by disparities in screening rates, insurance coverage, and access to high-quality treatment. Indigenous and Alaska Native populations also carry a disproportionate burden. Tracking these patterns helps identify where structural barriers to prevention and early detection persist and where intervention is most urgently needed to advance health justice.

Lung cancer cases

Measurement definition: The number of new cases of lung cancer diagnosed within a specific time period.

Clinical importance: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, and its burden is shaped by more than individual behavior. Tobacco industry targeting of Black communities, Indigenous communities, and low-income populations has driven longstanding disparities in smoking rates and, consequently, in lung cancer incidence and mortality. Black men face higher incidence rates than white men despite similar or lower smoking rates, suggesting additional structural factors including occupational exposures and unequal access to screening and treatment. Low-dose CT screening is now recommended for high-risk individuals but remains underutilized in the communities that need it most.

Prostate cancer cases

Measurement definition: The number of new prostate cancer cases diagnosed among male patients within a specific time period.

Clinical importance: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in the United States, with incidence and outcomes varying significantly across racial and socioeconomic groups. Black men face substantially higher incidence rates and are more likely to die from prostate cancer than any other group, reflecting longstanding disparities in screening access and clinical trial representation. This data reflects sex as recorded in medical records at the time of diagnosis rather than gender identity. As a result, transgender women and nonbinary people with a prostate may be miscategorized or excluded from surveillance, leading to undercounts that obscure their cancer risk and care needs. Gaps in gender-inclusive cancer surveillance are themselves a health equity issue.

Breast cancer screening

Measurement definition: The percentage of women ages 50-74 who report having received a mammogram within the recommended timeframe, based on survey responses.

Clinical importance: Regular breast cancer screening through mammography can detect cancer early when it is most treatable. Monitoring screening rates helps identify populations that may face barriers to preventive care and enables targeted interventions to improve early detection and reduce breast cancer mortality.

Prostate cancer screening

Measurement definition: The percentage of men ages 55-69 who report having received prostate cancer screening (such as PSA testing or digital rectal exam) within the recommended timeframe, based on survey responses.

Clinical importance: Prostate cancer screening can help detect cancer early in high-risk populations. Understanding screening patterns across different communities helps identify disparities in access to preventive services and supports efforts to ensure informed decision-making about prostate cancer screening.

Colorectal cancer screening

Measurement definition: The percentage of people ages 45-74 who report having received colorectal cancer screening (such as colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or stool-based tests) within the recommended timeframe, based on survey responses.

Clinical importance: Colorectal cancer screening is highly effective at detecting cancer early and identifying precancerous polyps that can be removed before they become cancerous. Tracking screening rates helps identify gaps in preventive care and supports initiatives to increase screening adherence and reduce colorectal cancer mortality.

Cervical cancer screening

Measurement definition: The percentage of women ages 21-65 who report having received cervical cancer screening (such as Pap test or HPV test) within the recommended timeframe, based on survey responses.

Clinical importance: Cervical cancer screening is one of the most effective cancer prevention tools, capable of detecting precancerous changes before they develop into cancer. Monitoring screening rates helps identify populations that may lack access to preventive care and informs strategies to reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality.

Lung cancer screening

Measurement definition: The percentage of people ages 50-79 with a significant smoking history who report having received low-dose CT screening for lung cancer within the recommended timeframe, based on survey responses.

Clinical importance: Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT scans can detect lung cancer at earlier, more treatable stages among high-risk individuals with smoking history. Tracking screening rates in eligible populations helps identify gaps in preventive care delivery and supports efforts to reduce lung cancer mortality through early detection.

• Cancer Health Equity Institute (CHEI)