Childhood cancer incidence and mortality— United States, 2001–2003

Recent information on childhood cancer incidence and mortality, especially on how they vary by location is minimal. We aim to describe cancer incidence and mortality, and identify geographic variation with the most recent data available. Cancer incidence and mortality data were obtained from National Program of Cancer Registries, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program and National Vital Statistics System. Age-adjusted incidence rate (AIR) and death rate (ADR) per million, rate ratio and the corresponding 95% confidence interval were estimated. We identified 36,525 new cases diagnosed (AIR=166.28) and 6,730 deaths (ADR=27.71) between 2001 and 2003 nationwide. The AIR was significantly higher among boys (174.60) than girls (157.54), and significantly higher among adolescents aged 15-19 years (210.76) than children aged 0-14 years (151.33). Similarly, boys had significant higher ADR (30.62) than girls (24.65); adolescents had significant higher ADR (35.10) than children (25.23). Whites had the highest AIR (173.55) and ADR (28.26) among all races. Hispanics and non-Hispanics had similar AIRs (164.19 and 166.67), but the ADR for Hispanics (30.21) was significant higher than that for non-Hispanics (27.13). The youths in the Northeast had the highest AIR (179.50), but the lowest ADR (25.58) compared to other regions. Despite a low AIR (165.57), the youths in the West had the highest ADR (30.70). Our study is the first to demonstrate regional differences in childhood cancer incidence and mortality. It also shows substantial variations in cancer rates by sex, age and race/ethnicity. Further analysis on the regional variations may help guide cancer research and intervention.