Cancer Statistics

The National Problem

Breast cancer is currently the leading cancer diagnosed among US women and second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death.*1
Cervical cancer, though highly preventable, is the 10th most common women's cancer accounting for an estimated 1.4 percent of cancer deaths. *1
Breast and cervical cancers are often detected too late. If found while still localized, the five year survival rates are 98% and 92% respectively. *2

South Carolina ranks 9th in the nation for estimated deaths from cervical cancer and 25th for deaths from breast cancer. *3
White women are nearly 11% more likely to develop breast cancer, but African-American women are nearly 35% more likely to die of the disease. *4
Often without access to preventive health services, African-American women are over twice as likely to die of cervical cancer than are white women. *4
South Carolina has one of the highest rates of uninsured women in the nation. Data from the "Making the Grade on Women's Health" indicates 18% of women in South Carolina do not have health insurance coverage. This situation is worse for low-income women. Data from the Current Population survey (1994-1996) indicates that 24% of women (between the ages of 50 and 64) who earn less than 200% of the federal poverty level do not have health insurance coverage.

More South Carolina cancer facts and figures are available at the DHEC Central Cancer Registry website.

*1 "Cancer Facts and Figures 2004". American Cancer Society

*2 SEER Cancer Statistics Review 1975-2001, based on cancers diagnosed between 1995-2000.

*3 State Cancer Profiles, National Cancer Institute web site. http://statecancerprofiles.gov. Accessed 06/11/2004

*4 "Cancer Incidence in South Carolina, 1999 Cancer Incidence. Nov. 2002. South Carolina Central Cancer Registry

*5 "Making the Grade on Women's Health" NWLC, & FOCUS; Based on 1998 BRFSS, women 18-64, non-institutionalized civilian pop.