Cancer Incidence & Mortality

Date Updated: 09/29/2011

Cancer develops when cells in a part of the body begin to grow out of control. Cancer cells develop because of damage to DNA (a substance present in every cell that directs all activities) and once formed, these cells may travel to other parts of the body and replace normal tissue (a process called metastasis). The sooner a cancer is found, the better the odds for survival. The risk for developing most types of cancer may be reduced through lifestyle changes (such as quitting smoking and improved diet). For more information on cancer and resources see the American Cancer Society website.

The following data were obtained from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment's Colorado Health Information Database (COHID). CDPHE protects patient confidentiality by limiting access to data when identification is statistically possible. Therefore, in certain circumstances (such as for Racial & Ethnic Health Data), data for Larimer County were suppressed and unavailable for analysis. Rates used in this report were age-adjusted per 100,000 residents. In 2002, the standard comparison group for age-adjusted cancer incidence rates was updated. It is recommended that data from 2002 and later not be compared with data before 2002. Additionally, in 1999, the standard comparison group for age-adjusted mortality rates was also updated. COHID states this change may affect trends in mortality.

Definitions:

Incidence - the number of new diagnoses within a population

Mortality - the number or rate of deaths that occur in a population

Age-adjusted rates - the rate that would occur if populations had age distributions equal to a standard population

What this chart shows: Cancer Incidence Rate (per 100,000) in Colorado & Larimer County, 2003-2008

*Age-Adjusted Rate

Data Source: Colorado Health Information Dataset

See data table

What the above data tell us:

In Larimer County, the rate of new cancer cases (incidence) was higher than that of Colorado for five of the six years shown above. The increases in Larimer County may have been due to higher rates of breast, colorectal and urinary bladder cancers. For more information, see the chart/ table of Increasing Cancer Incidence Rates (per 100,000) in Larimer County, 2003-2008.

What this chart shows: Cancer Mortality Rate (per 100,000) in Colorado & Larimer County, 2001-2010

*Age-Adjusted Rate

Data Source: Colorado Health Information Dataset

See data table

What the above data tell us:

From 2001 to 2010, cancer mortality rates for Colorado and Larimer County generally declined. Larimer County first met the Healthy People 2010 objective (159.9 per 100,000) in 2003 and has remained within these guidelines since. Colorado reached this level in 2004 and the downward trend has continued.

The decline in mortality rates is most likely reflective of a national trend showing decreases in lung, prostate, and colon cancer in men, and breast and colorectal cancer in women. The decline in death rate is important because this is the best indicator of progress against cancer. The American Cancer Society attributed national decreases to reduced exposure to tobacco, earlier detection through screening, and more effective treatment.

What this chart shows: Site-Specific Cancer Incidence Rate (per 100,000) in Colorado by Race/Ethnicity, 2008

Rates for Native Americans were unavailable or suppressed to protect patient confidentiality.

*Age-Adjusted Rate

Data Source: Colorado Health Information Dataset

See data table

What the above data tell us:

Colorado figures were used in the above chart because Larimer County race and ethnicity data are not available due to the small sample size. In 2008, African-Americans had the highest incidence rates of prostate and lung cancers in Colorado. Additionally, Hispanics had the highest rates of colorectal, cervical, stomach, and liver cancers, whereas Whites had the highest rates of breast cancer.

See Total Cancer Deaths by Race/Ethnicity in Colorado (2001-2010) for a breakdown of cancer deaths in Colorado by race/ethnicity.

What this chart shows: Increasing Cancer Incidence Rates by Type in Larimer County, 2003-2008

*Age-Adjusted Rate

Data Source: Colorado Health Information Dataset - Cancer Incidence Statistics

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Additional Information:

Total Cancer Deaths by Race/ Ethnicity in Colorado

	White	African-American	Asian American & Pacific Islander	American Indian & Alaskan Native	Hispanic
2001	5,813	229	70	21	505
2002	6,063	205	77	26	545
2003	6,079	214	81	23	603
2004	5,878	190	92	25	579
2005	6,004	228	103	29	574
2006	6,164	224	97	31	606
2007	6,240	243	72	29	576
2008	6,366	228	73	40	673
2009	6,537	242	108	40	696
2010	6,584	280	110	39	673

Data Source: Colorado Health Information Dataset - Death Statistics

Healthy People 2010 is a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative establishing national objectives to improve the health of all Americans, to eliminate disparities, and to increase the years and quality of life. New guidelines and objectives have been established for the next ten years, through 2020.

Related Information on COMPASS -

• Adult Alcohol Use
• Adult Tobacco Use
• Lung Cancer Incidence & Mortality
• Men's Health
• Mortality
• Women's Health

Other Resources -

• American Cancer Society

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Healthy People 2010/2020
• National Cancer Institute

Industry Standards or Targets:

Healthy People 2010:

• 3-1. Reduce the overall cancer death rate to 159.9 per 100,000 population
• 3-2. Reduce the lung cancer death rate to 44.9 per 100,000 population
• 3-3. Reduce the breast cancer death rate to 22.3 per 100,000 population
• 3-4. Reduce the cervical cancer death rate to 2.0 per 100,000 population
• 3-5. Reduce the colorectal cancer death rate to 13.9 per 100,000 population
• 3-6. Reduce the oropharyngeal cancer death rate to 2.7 per 100,000 population
• 3-7. Reduce the prostate cancer death rate to 28.8 per 100,000 population
• 3-8. Reduce the melanoma cancer death rate to 2.5 per 100,000 population

• See a comprehensive list of Healthy People 2010 objectives related to cancer

Data Tables:

Cancer Incidence Rates (per 100,000) in Colorado & Larimer County, Age-Adjusted Rate

	Colorado		Larimer County
	Number	Rate	Number	Rate
2003	18,024	449.4	1,095	471.9
2004	18,232	440.8	1,075	446.1
2005	18,824	442.1	1,128	451.0
2006	19,144	437.3	1,133	437.9
2007	20,129	446.6	1,166	431.4
2008	20,353	438.6	1,244	441.3

See chart

Cancer Mortality Rates (per 100,000) in Colorado & Larimer County, Age-Adjusted Rate

	Colorado		Larimer County
	Number	Rate	Number	Rate
2001	6,134	170.3	349	167.5
2002	6,372	173.4	355	169.0
2003	6,400	169.0	352	157.3
2004	6,185	159.0	331	143.4
2005	6,367	159.2	359	146.2
2006	6,523	159.1	393	158.4
2007	6,590	156.5	386	146.8
2008	6,709	153.2	372	133.4
2009	6,938	152.9	404	141.2
2010	7,029	149.4	412	139.8

See chart

Site-Specific Cancer Incidence Rate (per 100,000) by Race/Ethnicity* -
Colorado (2008), Age-Adjusted Rate

	White		Hispanic		African-American		Asian-American/ Pacific Islander
	Number	Rate	Number	Rate	Number	Rate	Number	Rate
Breast	2,725	68.4	342	64.3	95	56.1	52	41.8
Cervix	107	2.7	35	4.4	4	2.2	5	3.2
Prostate	2,828	72.0	251	54.9	135	85.1	14	13.7
Colon & Rectum	1,437	38.4	214	52.4	60	41.1	39	40.8
Lung & Bronchus	1,994	54.4	167	42.0	64	43.5	31	30.1
Stomach	192	5.3	33	9.5	4	3.1	6	6.5
Liver & Intrahepatic Bile Duct	188	4.7	80	14.8	14	7.4	15	13.8

* Colorado Native American figures were either unavailable or suppressed to protect confidentiality.

See chart

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