Introduction: The elimination of disparities in health and disease outcomes is a theme for Healthy People 2010. Because colorectal cancer screening is currently of interest and the fact that these cancers rank among the top sites nationally as well as in Illinois, an epidemiologic evaluation of cancers of the colon and rectum with emphasis on black/white comparisons was conducted for the state. Methods: Cancer incidence data, 1986-1997, from the population-based Illinois State Cancer Registry and cancer mortality data, 1979-1998, derived from Illinois death master files served as the basis for evaluation. Results: Blacks had higher colon cancer incidence rates than whites, whereas whites, particularly males, had higher rectal cancer incidence rates than blacks. Significant declines in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality were observed for whites but not among blacks. Black Illinoisans showed strikingly higher colorectal cancer death rates than their white counterparts. For both blacks and whites, incidence and mortality increased with advancing age. Age-specific incidence rates tended to be higher among whites than blacks except in the younger age-groups but age-specific mortality rates for blacks exceeded those observed for whites in all age-sex groups. Blacks had more cancers diagnosed in proximal colon subsites than whites. Whites were diagnosed at earlier stages of disease than blacks. Conclusions: The evaluation revealed existing and increasing disparities in colorectal cancer between blacks and whites in Illinois. These disparities must be addressed to not only improve the health of all Illinoisans but assure that the improvement reaches all race/ethnic groups in the state. See www.idph.state.il.us/about/epi/index/cancer.htm
Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize differences in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality between whites and blacks in Illinois. 2. Understand the use of counts, age-adjusted rates, age-specific rates, percentages in implementing a state-wide surveillance evaluation of cancer. 3. Describe new methods developed by the National Cancer Institute to evaluate trends in cancer incidence and mortality.
Keywords: Cancer, Data/Surveillance
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Illinois Department of Public Health
Illinois State Cancer Registry
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.