Leading Cancers in Women, Men, & Children
For Women: Breast cancer is the leading cancer for women in the US.
Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer and colorectal cancer is third
among white women. The number 2 and 3 cancers are reversed among black and
Asian/Pacific Island women. For all women, the fourth leading cancer is cancer
of the uterus.
For Men: Prostate cancer is the leading cancer for men in the US. It
is followed by lung cancer and then colorectal cancer. The fourth most common
cancer is race-dependent. It is bladder cancer for white men, cancer of the
mouth and throat for black men; and stomach cancer for Asian/Pacific Island men.
For Children: The most common malignancies in childhood
are leukemia, followed by brain tumors, and lymphoma.
For more in-depth information, please see the following areas:
Related Articles on Prostate Cancer
Related Articles on Breast Cancer
Centers
Barbara K. Hecht,
Ph.D.
Frederick Hecht, M.D.
Medical Editors, MedicineNet.com
Latest Cancer Incidence Report Shows Prostate Leading Cancer Among Men,
Breast Cancer Leads for Women
The most comprehensive federal report available on state-specific cancer
incidence rates for the first time includes information on Asians/Pacific
Islanders as well as a new section on childhood cancers. U.S. Cancer Statistics:
2000 Incidence - released today by the Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) - also shows prostate cancer is the leading cancer overall in men in the
United States and breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in U.S. women.
The latest report marks the second 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, have combined data
to produce official federal statistics on cancer incidence.
The report includes data from 41 states, six metropolitan areas, and the
District of Columbia, covering 84 percent of the U.S. population - up from the
coverage rate of 78 percent for the 1999 report issued last year.
"The increase in the coverage rate can be attributed to more statewide
registries meeting data quality criteria for inclusion in this report. Our goal
is to continue to provide detailed information from population-based central
cancer registries to better conduct research and guide effective cancer
prevention and control programs," said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.
The race categories for national data were expanded this year to include
cancer incidence for Asians/Pacific Islanders in addition to whites and blacks.
A new section describing cancer incidence among children and adolescents also is
included in this year's publication.
Some major findings of the report include
- Prostate cancer is the leading cancer affecting men of all races in the
United States, followed by lung cancer and colorectal cancer;
- The fourth most common cancer was urinary bladder cancer for white men;
cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx for black men; and stomach cancer for
Asian/Pacific Islander men.
- Breast cancer is the leading cancer among women of all races in the United
States;
- Among white women, lung cancer is the second most common cancer and
colorectal is the third most common cancer. Among black and Asian/Pacific
Islander women, colorectal cancer and lung cancer are the second and third
most common cancers, respectively;
- The fourth leading cancer among women of all races in the United States is
cancer of the uterus, not including cervical cancer;
- The most common childhood cancers are leukemias, followed by cancer of the
central nervous system, and lymphomas and reticuloendothelial neoplasms
(specific white blood cell cancers).
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