Atlas of Cancer Mortality

Results -- Geographic Patterns for All Cancers

In the recent time period 1970-94, rates were elevated among white males in a large proportion of counties across the eastern third of the country, both north and south, and along parts of the lower Mississippi River, while rates were low in most of California and Nevada. By contrast, in the earlier time period 1950-69, rates among white males were relatively low across the Southeast except for coastal areas. In both time periods, rates tended to be low across the upper midwestern states, the Plains, and Rocky Mountain states. Particularly striking was the change from low to high rates across much of the Southeast. Among white females in both periods, high rates were concentrated in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states and in parts of the upper midwestern states, while in recent years high rates emerged in the far western states and several southeast coastal areas. Relatively low rates persisted in the southern and central regions of the country. Among black males and females, rates tended to be low across the southern parts of the country and elevated in the mid-Atlantic and midwestern areas. There was little geographic concordance at the SEA level between high-rate areas for whites and blacks among either males or females.

Suggested Citation

Devesa SS, Grauman DG, Blot WJ, Pennello G, Hoover RN, Fraumeni JF Jr. Atlas of cancer mortality in the United States, 1950-94. Washington, DC: US Govt Print Off; 1999 [NIH Publ No. (NIH) 99-4564].
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