Georgia epidemiology report, Vol. 24, no. 7 (July 2008)

July 2008

volume 24 number 07

Cancer

Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry (GCCR)
The Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry (GCCR) is a statewide population-based cancer database on all cancer cases diagnosed among Georgia residents since January 1, 1995. This information furthers our understanding of cancer and is used to develop strategies and policies for prevention, control, and treatment. These state level data allow health researchers to identify cancer risk factors by analyzing geographic, racial, and other differences among cases. The data also help to determine where early detection, educational, or other programs should be directed.
GCCR is a participant in the National Program for Cancer Registries (NPCR) that was established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1992 through the Federal Cancer Registry Amendment Act (Public Law 102-515).

The goals of the GCCR are:
To collect information on all newly diagnosed cancer cases in Georgia.
To calculate cancer incidence rates for the state of Georgia.
To make data available to the public and health care professionals.
To identify and evaluate cancer incidence and mortality trends on an ongoing basis.
To provide cancer incidence and mortality data to cancer control programs to assist in developing prevention strategies and evaluating their effectiveness.
To stimulate cancer control research.

Cancer Mortality

Leading Causes of dDeeaatthh iinn GGeeoorrggiiaa,, 22000011--22000055

Diabet es 2%
Pneumonia and Influenza 2%
Chronic Respiratory Disease 5%
Unintentional Injury 5%
St ro k e 6%

Heart Disease 26%
Cancer 21%

Ot her 31%

Lung and Bronchus 30%
Colon and Rectum 9%
Breast 8%
P ro st at e 5%
Other Cancers 48%

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Georgia.
Nearly two-thirds of cancer deaths can be linked to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, diet, obesity, and lack of physical activity.
The burden of cancer can be significantly reduced by appropriate use of mammography, colorectal screening, and by other early detection examinations and by preventing or quiting tobacco use, improving diet, and increasing physical activity.

The Georgia Epidemiology Report Via E-Mail To better serve our readers, we would like to know if you would prefer to receive the GER by e-mail as a readable PDF file.
If yes, please send your name and e-mail address to Gaepinfo@dhr.state.ga.us. | Please visit, http://health.state.ga.us/epi/manuals/ger.asp for all current and past pdf issues of the GER.

Cancer Incidence in Georgia
During 2001-2005, an annual average of 35,537 cancer cases were diagnosed in Georgia.
Breast, lung and bronchus, and colon and rectum cancers account for 55% of all new cancer cases among females in Georgia.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer incidence among females in Georgia.
Prostate, lung and bronchus, and colon and rectum cancers account for 56% of all new cancer cases among males in Georgia.
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer incidence among males in Georgia.

Age-adjusted Cancer Incidence Rates by County, Georgia, 2001-2005
Rate is Significantly Higher than the State Average No Significant Difference from the State Average Rate is Significantly Lower than the State Average

Age-adjusted Cancer Incidence Rates by Race and Sex, Georgia Vs. United States, 2001-2005

Rate per 100,000

800

653 636636

600

567 557

557

400

200

0

BlaBclkacMk ales WhWitehMiteales

Males

Males

375 393090 BBllaacckk FFeemmaalleess

Georgia

United States

Black males in Georgia are 15% more

likely to be diagnosed with cancer

411 424323

than white males.

White females are 9% more likely to

be diagnosed with cancer than black

females.

In Georgia, males are 45% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than females.

WWhhiittee FFeemmaalleess

Division of Public Health http://health.state.ga.us
S. Elizabeth Ford, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.P.
Acting Director State Health Officer

Martha N. Okafor, Ph.D. Deputy Director, Health Information,
Policy, Strategy & Accountability
John M. Horan, M.D., M.P.H. State Epidemiologist
Director, Epidemiology Section http://health.state.ga.us/epi

Georgia Epidemiology Report Editorial Board
Carol A. Hoban, M.S., M.P.H. Editor Kathryn E. Arnold, M.D.
Cherie Drenzek, D.V.M., M.S. John M. Horan, M.D., M.P.H. S. Elizabeth Ford, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.A.P. Angela Alexander - Mailing List Jimmy Clanton, Jr. - Designer

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Georgia Department of Human Resources
Division of Public Health

Two Peachtree St., N.W. Atlanta, GA 30303-3186 Phone: (404) 657-2588
Fax: (404) 657-7517
Please send comments to: gaepinfo@dhr.state.ga.us

Leading Causes of Cancer Incidence in Georgia

Age-adjusted Cancer Incidence Rates, Males, Georgia Vs. United States, 2001-2005

Age-adjusted Cancer Incidence Rates, Females, Georgia Vs. United States, 2001-2005

Prostate Lung and Bronchus
Colorectal Bladder incl In Situ
Melanoma Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Kidney and Renal Pelvis
Oral Cavity Leukemia Pancreas 0

Georgia United States

50

100

150

200

Rate Per 100,000

Breasstt

LLung aanndd BBronchuss

CCoolloonnaanndd RReecctttuumm

UUtteerriinnee CCoorrppuuss

MMeellaannoommaa

NNono-nH-HooddggkkininLLyymmpphhoommaa OOvvaarryy
TThhyyrrooiidd

GGeeorgiaa UUnniitteed Staatteess

PPaannccrreeaass

KKiiddnneeyy aanndd RReennaallPPeellvviiss

00 2200 4400 6600 8800 110000 112200 114400 116600 Rate Per 100, 000 Rate Per 100,000

Cancer Incidence Among Males
The annual age-adjusted cancer incidence rate for males in Georgia is 571.7 per 100,000.
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer among Georgia males and accounts for 28% of all new cancer cases among males each year.
Prostate and lung and bronchus cancer incidence rates are higher among Georgia males than among U.S. males.
The incidence rate for bladder cancer is lower among Georgia males than the U.S. males.

Cancer Incidence Among Females
The annual age-adjusted cancer incidence rate for females in Georgia is 395.1 per 100,000.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer among Georgia females and accounts for 31% of all new cancer cases among females each year.
The incidence rates for breast, lung and bronchus, colorectal, and uterine cancer are lower among Georgia females than U.S. females.

Who Is At Risk For Developing Cancer? Everyone. Since the occurrence
of cancer increases as individuals' age, most cancers affect adults who are middle-aged or older. In the U.S., males have a 1 in 2 lifetime risk of developing cancer. Females have a 1 in 3 lifetime risk.

2008 Cancer Estimates In 2008, at least 35,600 new cancer
cases will be diagnosed among Georgians, about 97 cases per day. More than 14,400 Georgians will die of cancer during 2008.

Estimated Cost
In Georgia, cancer costs during 2004 were approximately $4.6 billion: $1.7 billion for direct medical costs, $406 million for indirect morbidity costs, and $2.5 billion for indirect mortality costs.

This article was written by A. Rana Bayakly, M.P.H., Director Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry

Editor's Note: The Reported Cases of Selected Notifiable Diseases in Georgia, Profile* for February 2008 was incorrectly displayed in the June 2008 issue of the GER. The Profile was for March 2008, not February 2008. We apologize for any confusion this error may have caused.

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The Georgia Epidemiology Report Epidemiology Branch Two Peachtree St., NW Atlanta, GA 30303-3186

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID ATLANTA, GA PERMIT NO. 4528

July 2008

Volume24Number07

Reported Cases of Selected Notifiable Diseases in Georgia, Profile* for April 2008

Selected Notifiable Diseases
Campylobacteriosis Chlamydia trachomatis Cryptosporidiosis E. coli O157:H7 Giardiasis Gonorrhea Haemophilus influenzae (invasive) Hepatitis A (acute) Hepatitis B (acute) Legionellosis Lyme Disease Meningococcal Disease (invasive) Mumps Pertussis Rubella Salmonellosis Shigellosis Syphilis - Primary Syphilis - Secondary Syphilis - Early Latent Syphilis - Other** Syphilis - Congenital Tuberculosis

Total Reported for April 2008
2008 52 82 22 2 31 25 11 5 4 1 2 3 0 0 0 123 116 6 34 22 90 1 37

Previous 3 Months Total Ending in April

2006

2007

2008

140

131

134

10025

11140

4493

42

32

62

8

5

3

139

140

116

4659

4349

1531

36

38

42

12

14

12

47

34

23

1

11

7

0

0

2

8

4

7

1

0

0

5

2

3

0

0

0

189

273

254

194

254

305

33

18

22

97

121

143

88

116

83

271

281

281

4

3

2

131

129

106

Previous 12 Months Total Ending in April

2006

2007

2008

618

580

693

35921

41584

36002

175

271

269

33

41

45

701

690

666

17322

19903

14844

107

125

139

104

67

59

172

187

141

36

49

40

6

7

13

20

18

25

2

3

0

43

28

15

0

0

0

1929

1948

1985

787

1479

1711

137

107

101

495

515

607

397

422

398

1005

1042

1185

7

9

9

511

516

459

* The cumulative numbers in the above table reflect the date the disease was first diagnosed rather than the date the report was received at the state office, and therefore are subject to change over time due to late reporting. The 3 month delay in the disease profile for a given month is designed to minimize any changes that may occur. This method of summarizing data is expected to provide a better overall measure of disease trends and patterns in Georgia.
** Other syphilis includes latent (unknown duration), late latent, late with symptomatic manifestations, and neurosyphilis.
AIDS Profile Update

Report Period
Latest 12 Months

Disease

Total Cases Reported*

Classification <13yrs

>=13yrs Total

HIV, non-AIDS 25

2,867

2,892

Percent Female MSM

27

23

Risk Group Distribution %

IDU

MSM&IDU HS

Unknown Perinatal White

2

1

5

68

1

20

Race Distribution %

Black

Hispanic Other

73

3

3

6/07-5/08

AIDS

8

1,894

1,902

28

29

3

1

8

59

<1

19

74

5

<1

Five Years Ago:**

HIV, non-AIDS -

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

6/03-5/04

AIDS

8

1,945

1,953

29

35

7

2

16

38

<1

19

74

5

<1

Cumulative: HIV, non-AIDS 220

11,723

11,943

32

27

6

2

11

52

2

21

74

4

2

07/81-5/08 AIDS

241

32,622

32,863

20

43

14

5

14

22

1

30

66

3

1

Yrs - Age at diagnosis in years

MSM - Men having sex with men

IDU - Injection drug users

HS - Heterosexual

* Case totals are accumulated by date of report to the Epidemiology Section ** Due to a change in the surveillance system, case counts may be artificially low during this time period

***HIV, non-AIDS was not collected until 12/31/2003

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