Cancer Incidence Rates in the United States

On January 1, 2007, in the United States there were approximately 11,713,736 men and women alive who had a history of cancer of all sites -- 5,353,054 men and 6,360,682 women. This includes any person alive on January 1, 2007 who had been diagnosed with cancer of all sites at any point prior to January 1, 2007 and includes persons with active disease and those who are cured of their disease. The number of people who have received a diagnosis of cancer during a defined time period, and who are alive on the last day of that period. Most prevalence data in SEER is for limited duration because information on cases diagnosed before 1973 is not generally available. can also be expressed as a percentage and it can also be calculated for a specific amount of time prior to January 1, 2007 such as diagnosed within 5 years of January 1, 2007. (From the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute)

SEER Incidence for Breast Cancer
From 2003-2007, the median age at diagnosis for cancer of the breast was 61 years of age. Approximately 0.0% were diagnosed under age 20; 1.9% between 20 and 34; 10.5% between 35 and 44; 22.6% between 45 and 54; 24.1% between 55 and 64; 19.5% between 65 and 74; 15.8% between 75 and 84; and 5.6% 85+ years of age.

The age-adjusted incidence rate was 122.9 per 100,000 women per year. These rates are based on cases diagnosed in 2003-2007 from 17 SEER geographic areas.

SEER Incidence for Colon/Rectal Cancer
From 2003-2007, the median age at diagnosis for cancer of the colon and rectum was 70 years of age. Approximately 0.1% were diagnosed under age 20; 1.1% between 20 and 34; 3.8% between 35 and 44; 12.4% between 45 and 54; 19.2% between 55 and 64; 24.4% between 65 and 74; 26.8% between 75 and 84; and 12.2% 85+ years of age.

The age-adjusted incidence rate was 47.9 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are based on cases diagnosed in 2003-2007 from 17 SEER geographic areas.

SEER Incidence for Lung Cancer
From 2003-2007, the median age at diagnosis for cancer of the lung and bronchus was 71 years of age. Approximately 0.0% were diagnosed under age 20; 0.2% between 20 and 34; 1.7% between 35 and 44; 8.8% between 45 and 54; 20.9% between 55 and 64; 31.3% between 65 and 74; 29.1% between 75 and 84; and 8.0% 85+ years of age.

The age-adjusted incidence rate was 62.5 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are based on cases diagnosed in 2003-2007 from 17 SEER geographic areas.

SEER Incidence for Ovarian Cancer
From 2003-2007, the median age at diagnosis for cancer of the ovary was 63 years of age. Approximately 1.3% were diagnosed under age 20; 3.5% between 20 and 34; 7.4% between 35 and 44; 19.2% between 45 and 54; 22.9% between 55 and 64; 19.5% between 65 and 74; 18.4% between 75 and 84; and 7.8% 85+ years of age.

The age-adjusted incidence rate was 12.9 per 100,000 women per year. These rates are based on cases diagnosed in 2003-2007 from 17 SEER geographic areas.

SEER Incidence for Pancreatic Cancer
From 2003-2007, the median age at diagnosis for cancer of the pancreas was 72 years of age. Approximately 0.0% were diagnosed under age 20; 0.4% between 20 and 34; 2.3% between 35 and 44; 9.7% between 45 and 54; 19.6% between 55 and 64; 25.6% between 65 and 74; 29.4% between 75 and 84; and 13.0% 85+ years of age.

The age-adjusted incidence rate was 11.7 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are based on cases diagnosed in 2003-2007 from 17 SEER geographic areas.

SEER Incidence for Prostate Cancer
From 2003-2007, the median age at diagnosis for cancer of the prostate was 67 years of age. Approximately 0.0% were diagnosed under age 20; 0.0% between 20 and 34; 0.6% between 35 and 44; 8.9% between 45 and 54; 29.9% between 55 and 64; 35.3% between 65 and 74; 20.7% between 75 and 84; and 4.6% 85+ years of age.

The age-adjusted incidence rate was 156.9 per 100,000 men per year. These rates are based on cases diagnosed in 2003-2007 from 17 SEER geographic areas.

SEER Incidence for Skin Cancer (Melanoma)
From 2003-2007, the median age at diagnosis for melanoma of the skin was 60 years of age. Approximately 0.8% were diagnosed under age 20; 7.5% between 20 and 34; 11.8% between 35 and 44; 18.7% between 45 and 54; 20.4% between 55 and 64; 17.8% between 65 and 74; 17.0% between 75 and 84; and 6.0% 85+ years of age.

The age-adjusted incidence rate was 20.1 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are based on cases diagnosed in 2003-2007 from 17 SEER geographic areas.

SEER Incidence for Urinary Bladder Cancer
From 2003-2007, the median age at diagnosis for cancer of the urinary bladder was 73 years of age. Approximately 0.1% were diagnosed under age 20; 0.5% between 20 and 34; 1.8% between 35 and 44; 7.5% between 45 and 54; 17.9% between 55 and 64; 27.4% between 65 and 74; 32.1% between 75 and 84; and 12.8% 85+ years of age.

The age-adjusted incidence rate was 21.1 per 100,000 men and women per year. These rates are based on cases diagnosed in 2003-2007 from 17 SEER geographic areas.