States with the highest cancer rates
An estimated 38% of adults will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, according to the National Cancer Institute, making cancer a top medical priority. The National Center for Health Statistics reports that cancer is the most-researched disease in the U.S.
According to the most recent data, the National Institutes of Health dedicated more than an estimated $6.8 billion to cancer research in 2022. While this research has led to new treatments contributing to a consistent decrease in cancer mortality rates throughout the 21st century, about one-third of patients will not survive five years after their diagnosis. This threat is still a long way from being eradicated.
More than 1.7 million people in America are diagnosed with cancer each year, and one of every four deaths in the country is due to cancer. The annual Cancer Progress Report, published by the American Association for Cancer Research most recently in September 2024, also indicates a worrying shift in age demographics among cancer patients. There is a sharp increase in younger and middle-aged adults getting diagnosed—in particular, colorectal cancer is on the rise among people as young as 20. At the same time, though, the cancer mortality rate for children and adolescents has declined by 24% over the past two decades.
On the other end of the spectrum, new research has revealed lowered risks of cancer in elderly individuals. While cancer remains common in those between 65 to 70 years old, a December 2024 study from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center shows that rates decline among people between 80 to 85 years old.
That said, it's difficult to generalize trends of how cancer spreads across different populations. The term "cancer" in fact refers to a collection of more than 100 related diseases, each of which involves a breakdown in normal body processes due to cells dividing uncontrollably and spreading into surrounding areas. Every one of these individual diseases has different potential causes, and scientists are still hard at work identifying links between possible carcinogens and actual disease rates. Still, we can see a clear variation between groups of people on a geographic level—particularly when comparing cancer rates across all 50 U.S. states. What factors might cause some states to have more people diagnosed with cancer each year than others? The question is still being investigated, but hospitals and other research centers in every state are working to find answers.
To examine this geographic distribution, Stacker used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which carefully track the rates at which cancer affects the U.S. population. We ranked 49 states and the District of Columbia by their incidence rates of cancer in 2019, the most recent data available. (Data from 2019 was not available for Nevada.) The incidence rate refers to the number of people out of 100,000 who are diagnosed with cancer in a given year and is age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population. We've also included incidence rates for the three most prevalent types of cancer in the U.S.: lung and bronchus cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. Incidence rates for breast cancer and prostate cancer are only available for women and men, respectively, even though both of these conditions may impact all genders.
Read on to find out how your state fares.
#50. Arizona
- Cancer rate: 359 new incidents per 100,000 people (19.1% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 372 per 100K men; 351 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 130 per 100K (12.5% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 39 per 100K (27.8% below U.S. average; #5 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 113 per 100K (13.9% below U.S. average; #1 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 69 per 100K (40.3% below U.S. average; #1 lowest among all states)
#49. New Mexico
- Cancer rate: 367 new incidents per 100,000 people (17.3% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 378 per 100K men; 361 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 132 per 100K (11.6% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 31 per 100K (42.9% below U.S. average; #2 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 124 per 100K (5.2% below U.S. average; #10 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 86 per 100K (25.1% below U.S. average; #2 lowest among all states)
#48. Colorado
- Cancer rate: 392 new incidents per 100,000 people (11.5% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 408 per 100K men; 384 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 126 per 100K (15.4% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 38 per 100K (30.6% below U.S. average; #4 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 131 per 100K (0.01% below U.S. average; #24 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 94 per 100K (18% below U.S. average; #5 lowest among all states)
#47. California
- Cancer rate: 397 new incidents per 100,000 people (10.4% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 421 per 100K men; 384 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 132 per 100K (11.4% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 37 per 100K (31.7% below U.S. average; #3 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 125 per 100K (4.9% below U.S. average; #11 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 98 per 100K (14.8% below U.S. average; #9 lowest among all states)
#46. Virginia
- Cancer rate: 402 new incidents per 100,000 people (9.4% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 428 per 100K men; 385 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 145 per 100K (2.7% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 50 per 100K (7.2% below U.S. average; #15 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 128 per 100K (2.2% below U.S. average; #18 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 99 per 100K (14.1% below U.S. average; #10 lowest among all states)
#45. District of Columbia
- Cancer rate: 404 new incidents per 100,000 people (8.9781% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 440 per 100K men; 382 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 147 per 100K (1.1% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 44 per 100K (19.5% below U.S. average; #7 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 125 per 100K (4.4% below U.S. average; #12 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 132 per 100K (14.4% above U.S. average; #9 lowest among all states)
#44. Utah
- Cancer rate: 407 new incidents per 100,000 people (8.3% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 436 per 100K men; 386 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 118 per 100K (20.9% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 26 per 100K (51.3758426345453% below U.S. average; #1 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 119 per 100K (9.6% below U.S. average; #4 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 115 per 100K (0.3% above U.S. average; #23 highest among all states)
#43. Indiana
- Cancer rate: 410 new incidents per 100,000 people (7.5% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 438 per 100K men; 394 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 164 per 100K (9.9% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 61 per 100K (12.7196375290087% above U.S. average; #12 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 118 per 100K (9.8% below U.S. average; #3 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 92 per 100K (19.9% below U.S. average; #4 lowest among all states)
#42. Oregon
- Cancer rate: 411 new incidents per 100,000 people (7.2% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 427 per 100K men; 403 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 145 per 100K (2.4% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 47 per 100K (14.4% below U.S. average; #11 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 135 per 100K (2.7% above U.S. average; #15 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 97 per 100K (16.1% below U.S. average; #7 lowest among all states)
#41. Texas
- Cancer rate: 412 new incidents per 100,000 people (7% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 451 per 100K men; 386 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 142 per 100K (4.6% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 45 per 100K (17.7% below U.S. average; #9 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 122 per 100K (6.6% below U.S. average; #7 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 105 per 100K (8.6% below U.S. average; #14 lowest among all states)
#40. Hawaii
- Cancer rate: 414 new incidents per 100,000 people (6.7% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 431 per 100K men; 406 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 127 per 100K (14.9% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 40 per 100K (25.6% below U.S. average; #6 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 141 per 100K (7.2% above U.S. average; #6 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 104 per 100K (9.4% below U.S. average; #13 lowest among all states)
#39. Wyoming
- Cancer rate: 415 new incidents per 100,000 people (6.3% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 444 per 100K men; 392 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 138 per 100K (7.5% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 44 per 100K (19.5% below U.S. average; #7 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 115 per 100K (12.4% below U.S. average; #2 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 112 per 100K (2.5% below U.S. average; #22 lowest among all states)
#38. Alaska
- Cancer rate: 419 new incidents per 100,000 people (5.6% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 422 per 100K men; 423 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 148 per 100K (0.9% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 51 per 100K (5.3% below U.S. average; #17 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 131 per 100K (0.1% above U.S. average; #21 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 98 per 100K (15% below U.S. average; #8 lowest among all states)
#37. South Carolina
- Cancer rate: 419 new incidents per 100,000 people (5.4% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 460 per 100K men; 390 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 154 per 100K (3.1% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 57 per 100K (5% above U.S. average; #20 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 132 per 100K (0.7% above U.S. average; #20 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 109 per 100K (5.7% below U.S. average; #18 lowest among all states)
#36. Washington (tie)
- Cancer rate: 429 new incidents per 100,000 people (3.3% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 454 per 100K men; 414 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 144 per 100K (3.3% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 48 per 100K (12% below U.S. average; #12 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 133 per 100K (1.1% above U.S. average; #19 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 101 per 100K (12.6% below U.S. average; #12 lowest among all states)
#35. South Dakota (tie)
- Cancer rate: 429 new incidents per 100,000 people (3.3% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 455 per 100K men; 410 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 153 per 100K (3% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 52 per 100K (5% below U.S. average; #19 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 127 per 100K (3.4% below U.S. average; #13 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 121 per 100K (5.6% above U.S. average; #18 highest among all states)
#34. Michigan
- Cancer rate: 433 new incidents per 100,000 people (2.4% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 470 per 100K men; 407 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 157 per 100K (5.5% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 59 per 100K (7.7467123439054% above U.S. average; #17 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 124 per 100K (5.5% below U.S. average; #9 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 116 per 100K (1.2% above U.S. average; #22 highest among all states)
#33. Massachusetts
- Cancer rate: 433 new incidents per 100,000 people (2.3% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 459 per 100K men; 419 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 140 per 100K (6.1% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 58 per 100K (5.90488820127453% above U.S. average; #19 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 138 per 100K (5% above U.S. average; #11 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 111 per 100K (3.9% below U.S. average; #20 lowest among all states)
#32. Florida
- Cancer rate: 434 new incidents per 100,000 people (2.1% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 460 per 100K men; 417 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 138 per 100K (7.1% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 53 per 100K (2.94% below U.S. average; #21 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 123 per 100K (6.2% below U.S. average; #8 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 88 per 100K (23.3% below U.S. average; #3 lowest among all states)
#31. North Dakota
- Cancer rate: 441 new incidents per 100,000 people (0.6% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 461 per 100K men; 430 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 140 per 100K (5.8% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 53 per 100K (2.75% below U.S. average; #22 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 137 per 100K (4.6% above U.S. average; #12 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 124 per 100K (8% above U.S. average; #17 highest among all states)
#30. Idaho
- Cancer rate: 441 new incidents per 100,000 people (0.5% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 479 per 100K men; 411 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 138 per 100K (7.1% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 44 per 100K (18.78% below U.S. average; #8 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 128 per 100K (2.5% below U.S. average; #17 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 125 per 100K (8.8% above U.S. average; #16 highest among all states)
#29. Missouri
- Cancer rate: 443 new incidents per 100,000 people (0.2% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 463 per 100K men; 431 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 160 per 100K (7.2% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 66 per 100K (22.2971230706892% above U.S. average; #7 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 136 per 100K (4% above U.S. average; #13 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 95 per 100K (17.2% below U.S. average; #6 lowest among all states)
#28. Minnesota
- Cancer rate: 443 new incidents per 100,000 people (0.2% below U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 471 per 100K men; 425 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 142 per 100K (4.4% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 50 per 100K (7.54% below U.S. average; #13 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 134 per 100K (2.2% above U.S. average; #16 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 108 per 100K (6% below U.S. average; #17 lowest among all states)
#27. Alabama
- Cancer rate: 443 new incidents per 100,000 people (0% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 498 per 100K men; 404 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 160 per 100K (7.6% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 60 per 100K (9.58853648653626% above U.S. average; #16 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 127 per 100K (3% below U.S. average; #16 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 118 per 100K (2.8% above U.S. average; #21 highest among all states)
#26. Tennessee
- Cancer rate: 447 new incidents per 100,000 people (0.7% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 500 per 100K men; 407 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 167 per 100K (12% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 68 per 100K (25.2440416988986% above U.S. average; #4 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 121 per 100K (7.6% below U.S. average; #6 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 115 per 100K (0.01% below U.S. average; #24 highest among all states)
#25. Oklahoma
- Cancer rate: 447 new incidents per 100,000 people (0.7% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 491 per 100K men; 415 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 173 per 100K (15.9% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 65 per 100K (19.718569271006% above U.S. average; #8 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 120 per 100K (8.4% below U.S. average; #5 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 105 per 100K (8.5% below U.S. average; #15 lowest among all states)
#24. Montana
- Cancer rate: 450 new incidents per 100,000 people (1.4% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 488 per 100K men; 418 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 141 per 100K (5.2% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 46 per 100K (14.54% below U.S. average; #10 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 135 per 100K (3.1% above U.S. average; #14 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 133 per 100K (15.5% above U.S. average; #7 highest among all states)
#23. Vermont
- Cancer rate: 451 new incidents per 100,000 people (1.6% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 482 per 100K men; 430 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 151 per 100K (1.2% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 53 per 100K (3.3% below U.S. average; #20 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 139 per 100K (6.2% above U.S. average; #8 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 109 per 100K (5.7% below U.S. average; #19 lowest among all states)
#22. Kansas
- Cancer rate: 452 new incidents per 100,000 people (2% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 486 per 100K men; 429 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 154 per 100K (3.4% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 53 per 100K (1.83% below U.S. average; #23 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 133 per 100K (1.4% above U.S. average; #18 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 115 per 100K (-0.26954177897575% below U.S. average; #25 highest among all states)
#21. Illinois (tie)
- Cancer rate: 454 new incidents per 100,000 people (2.3% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 486 per 100K men; 434 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 152 per 100K (2.00805856947224% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 57 per 100K (4.24724647290675% above U.S. average; #22 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 135 per 100K (2.7% above U.S. average; #15 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 114 per 100K (0.7% below U.S. average; #25 lowest among all states)
#20. Maryland (tie)
- Cancer rate: 454 new incidents per 100,000 people (2.3% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 492 per 100K men; 428 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 144 per 100K (3.2% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 51 per 100K (6.62% below U.S. average; #16 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 139 per 100K (6.2% above U.S. average; #8 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 141 per 100K (22.9% above U.S. average; #3 highest among all states)
#19. Delaware
- Cancer rate: 456 new incidents per 100,000 people (2.8% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 499 per 100K men; 424 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 151 per 100K (1.4% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 53 per 100K (2.94% below U.S. average; #21 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 147 per 100K (12.3% above U.S. average; #1 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 129 per 100K (12.4% above U.S. average; #13 lowest among all states)
#18. Nebraska
- Cancer rate: 457 new incidents per 100,000 people (3.2% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 499 per 100K men; 428 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 148 per 100K (0.9% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 52 per 100K (5.15% below U.S. average; #18 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 130 per 100K (1.2% below U.S. average; #22 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 130 per 100K (13.2% above U.S. average; #11 lowest among all states)
#17. Pennsylvania
- Cancer rate: 458 new incidents per 100,000 people (3.2% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 495 per 100K men; 434 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 153 per 100K (2.7% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 58 per 100K (6.45743544406379% above U.S. average; #18 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 131 per 100K (0.4% below U.S. average; #23 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 113 per 100K (1.5% below U.S. average; #24 lowest among all states)
#16. Georgia
- Cancer rate: 459 new incidents per 100,000 people (3.5% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 520 per 100K men; 415 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 151 per 100K (1.6% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 56 per 100K (2.77378715880207% above U.S. average; #23 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 129 per 100K (1.6% below U.S. average; #21 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 139 per 100K (20.9% above U.S. average; #5 highest among all states)
#15. North Carolina
- Cancer rate: 461 new incidents per 100,000 people (3.9% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 512 per 100K men; 425 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 152 per 100K (1.9% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 61 per 100K (12.3512727004826% above U.S. average; #13 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 138 per 100K (5.3% above U.S. average; #9 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 130 per 100K (12.6% above U.S. average; #12 highest among all states)
#14. Ohio
- Cancer rate: 468 new incidents per 100,000 people (5.6% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 508 per 100K men; 442 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 163 per 100K (9.3% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 64 per 100K (17.7% above U.S. average; #9 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 131 per 100K (0.0625390869293199% above U.S. average; #22 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 119 per 100K (3.4% above U.S. average; #20 highest among all states)
#13. Connecticut
- Cancer rate: 468 new incidents per 100,000 people (5.6% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 513 per 100K men; 439 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 132 per 100K (11.5% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 55 per 100K (1.1% above U.S. average; #25 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 143 per 100K (8.7% above U.S. average; #4 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 132 per 100K (15.1% above U.S. average; #8 highest among all states)
#12. Wisconsin
- Cancer rate: 469 new incidents per 100,000 people (5.7% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 512 per 100K men; 437 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 150 per 100K (0.6% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 57 per 100K (4.8% above U.S. average; #21 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 138 per 100K (5.2% above U.S. average; #10 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 126 per 100K (9.5% above U.S. average; #15 highest among all states)
#11. Mississippi
- Cancer rate: 470 new incidents per 100,000 people (5.9% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 543 per 100K men; 415 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 179 per 100K (20.1% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 68 per 100K (24.9% above U.S. average; #5 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 127 per 100K (3.4% below U.S. average; #14 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 141 per 100K (22.7% above U.S. average; #4 highest among all states)
#10. Rhode Island
- Cancer rate: 474 new incidents per 100,000 people (6.9% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 519 per 100K men; 445 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 154 per 100K (3.1% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 63 per 100K (15.7% above U.S. average; #10 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 145 per 100K (10.4% above U.S. average; #2 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 131 per 100K (13.6% above U.S. average; #10 highest among all states)
#9. New Hampshire
- Cancer rate: 476 new incidents per 100,000 people (7.3% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 512 per 100K men; 451 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 147 per 100K (1% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 61 per 100K (11.6% above U.S. average; #15 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 140 per 100K (6.5% above U.S. average; #7 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 121 per 100K (4.9% above U.S. average; #19 highest among all states)
#8. Maine
- Cancer rate: 478 new incidents per 100,000 people (7.9% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 501 per 100K men; 464 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 164 per 100K (10% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 68 per 100K (24.5% above U.S. average; #6 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 134 per 100K (2% above U.S. average; #17 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 107 per 100K (7.1% below U.S. average; #16 lowest among all states)
#7. West Virginia
- Cancer rate: 481 new incidents per 100,000 people (8.4% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 509 per 100K men; 462 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 174 per 100K (16.6% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 73 per 100K (33.7% above U.S. average; #3 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 127 per 100K (3.1% below U.S. average; #15 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 100 per 100K (12.7% below U.S. average; #11 lowest among all states)
#6. New Jersey
- Cancer rate: 484 new incidents per 100,000 people (9.1% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 533 per 100K men; 451 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 136 per 100K (8.4% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 50 per 100K (7.4% below U.S. average; #14 lowest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 143 per 100K (8.8% above U.S. average; #3 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 146 per 100K (27.3% above U.S. average; #2 highest among all states)
#5. New York
- Cancer rate: 485 new incidents per 100,000 people (9.4% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 526 per 100K men; 459 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 133 per 100K (11% below U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 55 per 100K (1.5% above U.S. average; #24 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 141 per 100K (7.7% above U.S. average; #5 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 139 per 100K (20.4% above U.S. average; #6 highest among all states)
#4. Arkansas
- Cancer rate: 488 new incidents per 100,000 people (10% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 547 per 100K men; 444 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 165 per 100K (10.9% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 73 per 100K (34.3% above U.S. average; #2 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 129 per 100K (1.8% below U.S. average; #20 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 113 per 100K (1.8% below U.S. average; #23 lowest among all states)
#3. Louisiana
- Cancer rate: 490 new incidents per 100,000 people (10.5% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 564 per 100K men; 434 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 168 per 100K (12.5% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 62 per 100K (14.6% above U.S. average; #11 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 129 per 100K (1.9% below U.S. average; #19 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 147 per 100K (27.5% above U.S. average; #1 highest among all states)
#2. Iowa
- Cancer rate: 494 new incidents per 100,000 people (11.5% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 540 per 100K men; 463 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 151 per 100K (1.1% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 61 per 100K (12.17% above U.S. average; #14 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 138 per 100K (5.3% above U.S. average; #9 highest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 128 per 100K (11.468567950613% above U.S. average; #14 highest among all states)
#1. Kentucky
- Cancer rate: 505 new incidents per 100,000 people (13.9% above U.S. average)
- Cancer rate by gender: 548 per 100K men; 476 per 100K women
- Deaths due to cancer: 176 per 100K (18.3% above U.S. average)
- Lung and bronchus cancer rate: 83 per 100K (53.2% above U.S. average; #1 highest among all states)
- Breast cancer rate: 131 per 100K (0.4% below U.S. average; #23 lowest among all states)
- Prostate cancer rate: 111 per 100K (3.5% below U.S. average; #21 lowest among all states)
Additional writing by Cu Fleshman.
