Delaware cancer mortality rate continues to decrease

According to the latest cancer data from the Division of Public Health, Delaware’s mortality rate for all cancer sites combined improved in most categories during the last 10 years.

However, the state remains 15th-highest in the U.S. for the time frame of 2013-17, which is unchanged from 2012-16. Delaware also remains second-highest nationally for all-site cancer incidence during the same period, which may be partly due to the state’s continued increases in early detection and screening.

DPH presented its data report, Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Delaware, 2013-2017, to the Delaware Cancer Consortium Oct. 18. The annual report compares Delaware’s cancer incidence and mortality trends for 2013-17 to those of the U.S. over the same period. DPH also summarizes how Delaware and U.S. cancer rates have changed from the five-year periods of 2003-07 to 2013-17. This year’s report analyzes all-site cancer and eight site-specific cancer types: breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, kidney, leukemia, oral and prostate.

DPH also issued a new compendium report, Census Tract-Level Cancer Incidence in Delaware, 2013-17, which replaces previous secondary analysis reports. This report presents modified calculations and detailed maps with all-site cancer incidence rates by census tract.

From 2003-07 to 2013-17 in Delaware, all-site cancer mortality rates decreased 26 percent among non-Hispanic African American males and 15 percent among non-Hispanic Caucasian males, yet increased 18 percent among Hispanic males. Among Delaware females during the same period, all-site cancer mortality rates decreased 12 percent among non-Hispanic African Americans, 15 percent among non-Hispanic Caucasians, and 12 percent among Hispanics. DPH attributes these decreases to screening and early detection.

“After decades of dedicated early detection and screening efforts by a wide array of partners, it’s reassuring to see improvement in certain areas,” said Gov. John Carney. “I commend the Delaware Cancer Consortium and the Division of Public Health for expertly coordinating our state’s cancer prevention advocacy and education. I also thank those Delawareans who get their recommended cancer screenings, and encourage everyone to do the same.”

For 2013-17, the state’s all-site cancer mortality rate (171.0 deaths per 100,000 people) was higher than the U.S. rate (158.3 deaths per 100,000). Also, for 2013-17, Delaware males (204.1 per 100,000) ranked 17th for all-site cancer mortality (18th in 2012-16) and had higher rates compared to U.S. males (189.5 per 100,000).

Delaware females (146.3.1 per 100,000) had a higher all-site cancer mortality rate compared to U.S. females (135.7 per 100,000) and ranked 17th for all-site cancer mortality, an improvement from 14th in 2012-2016.

“The data show us clearly that early screening and prevention are critical for bringing down cancer mortality rates. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many people to delay cancer screenings and other preventive chronic disease care, and economically disadvantaged communities are typically impacted the most,” said Molly Magarik, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services secretary. “Free cancer screenings are available to eligible Delawareans, and we know they can lead to earlier diagnosis and saving lives."

In 2013-17, there were nearly 29,000 new cancer cases diagnosed in Delaware, a slight increase from the 28,581 cases in 2012-16 . Of those cases, 51 percent of those diagnosed were male, and 78 percent were non-Hispanic Caucasians. Delaware saw statistically higher rates (484.3 per 100,000) for all-site cancer incidence than the U.S. (435.0 per 100,000). Also for 2013-17, Delaware males (531.5 per 100,000) had a higher all-site cancer incidence rate compared to U.S. males (472.9 per 100,000), ranking fourth nationally, an improvement from third in 2012-16.

Delaware females (450.8 per 100,000) had a higher rate of all-site cancer incidence in 2013-17 compared to U.S. females (410.5 per 100,000); their ranking improved to ninth from fifth in 2012-16.

Noticeable improvements exist among many racial and ethnic groups, likely due to Delaware’s health equity initiatives. While there was no significant statistical difference in all-site cancer incidence rates between non-Hispanic Caucasians (496.9 per 100,00) and non-Hispanic African Americans (485.5 per 100,000) in the 2013-17 period, Hispanics (389.1 per 100,000) had a lower all-site cancer incidence rate compared to both non-Hispanic Caucasians and non-Hispanic African Americans.

In Delaware, from 2003-07 to 2013-17, all-site cancer incidence rates decreased 12 percent among non-Hispanic Caucasian males, 22 percent among non-Hispanic African-American males, and 12 percent in Hispanic males. For females during the same 10-year period, the all-site cancer incidence rate decreased 9 percent among Hispanic females, but increased 3 percent among non-Hispanic Caucasians and less than 1 percent among non-Hispanic African Americans.

“In order to address the disparities that persist in cancer incidence and mortality, we must address the circumstances in which people are born, grow up, live, work, and age, and the systems put in place to deal with illness,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “These social determinants of health include housing and neighborhood conditions, educational and economic factors, transportation systems, social connections, and other social factors. We must look at the racial disparities across the cancer continuum from prevention to end-of-life care that result from differences in the social determinants of health as no longer endurable.”

To see the full report, go to dhss.delaware.gov.

To learn how to prevent, detect and treat chronic diseases and obtain assistance with a cancer screening, go to the Healthy Delaware website at HealthyDelaware.org.