Since 1991, deaths due to cancer have dwindled in the United States. Nonetheless, a new study has found that some counties in the U.S. remain "cancer hot spots." The data suggests that smoking and obesity are two major factors why the cancer death rate is higher in some areas.
Cancer death rates from 1991
According to the American Cancer Society, the cancer death rate in the U.S. has declined by about 25 percent since 1991. But records show that some places have gotten worse instead of better.
According to data from the listed 19.5 million cancer deaths since 1991, three types of cancers have taken more lives than others: lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer.
Lung cancer caused the highest number of deaths across the states of Kentucky and Florida. Breast cancer is more prevalent in the Southern belt and the Mississippi River, especially in Madison County. Colorado has the lowest number of death with just an average of 11 to 121 deaths out of 100,000 people depending on the county.
Watch the video below and learn what cancer is and how it spreads in the body right from the experts.
'Cancer hot spots' revealed
According to the data, Union County in Florida had the highest death rate with 503 deaths for every 100,000 people. It was followed by Madison County, Mississippi with an average of 363 deaths. Six counties in Kentucky are also cancer hot spots like Powell County with an average of 337 deaths, Breathitt County with 329 deaths, Owsley County with 323 deaths, Perry County with 322 deaths, Harlan County with 319 deaths, and Lee County with 317 deaths. Marlboro County in South Carolina and Anderson County in Texas are also hot spots with 324 and 323 average cancer deaths respectively.
Colorado has the lowest cancer death rates
Lowest cancer death rates were found in Colorado including the counties of Summit with just 11 deaths noted, Pitkin with 81, Eagle with 94, Hinsdale with 110, San Miguel with 113, and Grand with 121 deaths. Presidia County in Texas also has a low cancer death rate with just 103 deaths. The Aleutians East Borough and Aleutians West Census Area in Alaska also made it to the list with just 116 deaths. Los Alamos County in New Mexico and Billings County in North Dakota also have low cancer death rates with 118 and 120 known deaths respectively.
Prevention is better than cure
According to CNN, one of the best ways to prevent the increasing cancer death rate is to increase screening rates among minorities. Funded programs to treat cancer in communities should be given focus, especially among the African-American community. By early detection of cancer, the government will have more effective methods on how to treat cancer and avoid its escalation that might later on lead to death.