Cervical cancer among American Indians in the Cherokee Nation Tribal Jurisdiction Statistical Area

Since its inception in 1997, the Cherokee Nation has operated the only tribal cancer registry in the United States. The Cherokee Nation Cancer Registry (CNCR) is responsible for collecting all reportable incident American Indian (AI) cancer cases occurring within the Cherokee Nation Tribal Jurisdiction Statistical Area (CN TJSA). Additionally, Cherokee Nation receives funds for its Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (CNBCCEDP). In an effort to examine CNBCCEDP's prevention and early detection activities, the CNCR assessed the distribution, incidence & mortality of cervical cancer within the TJSA. By calculating cervical cancer standardized incidence ratios and mortality ratios, and geographically assessing the occurrence of cases, the activities of the CN BCCEDP can become more efficient and focused on areas where they are most needed and will have greatest impact.

Preliminary results from this project identify AI women within the CN TJSA as having a cervical cancer mortality rate at 5.0 deaths per 100,000 AI women. This is higher than the state rate of 4.6 deaths due to cervical cancer per 100,000 AI women. The incidence rate among AI women in the Cherokee Nation TJSA is also higher than the state rate. Within the CN TJSA, AI women had a rate of 17.0 cases per 100,000 while for the entire state the rate was 15.8 cases per 100,000. This study also examined the incidence among the different racial and ethnic groups present within the CN TJSA.