Health and Family

Cancer

Cancer

Cancer death rates have decreased in the Hampton Roads region over the last several years but remain higher than the overall average for Virginia.

Why is This Important?

More than one million people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States. Approximately one out of every two American men and one out of every three American women will have some type of cancer at some point during their lifetimes. While the overall cancer death rate declined during the 1990s, cancer remains the second leading cause of death. For men and women combined, the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer in Virginia is lung and bronchus cancer, followed by colon and rectum cancer. The most common form of cancer for women is breast cancer. For men, prostate cancer is the most common cancer.

How is Hampton Roads Doing?

Between 2000 and 2008, age-adjusted cancer death rates dropped from 224.1 to 184.4 per 100,000 people in the Hampton Roads region, moving from second highest of regions in the state to second lowest. This rate still remains above the statewide age-adjusted cancer rate of 176.9. The highest age-adjusted cancer rate is found in the Eastern region at 197.8. The lowest is in the Northern region at 150.5.

What Influences Cancer?

Environmental carcinogens, tobacco, diet and obesity, sedentary lifestyle, occupational factors, family history, environmental pollution, ultraviolet radiation, and socioeconomic status have all been linked to cancer. Recently, viruses and other biologic agents, as well as alcohol consumption, particularly when interacting with tobacco, have also been linked to cancer.