Using population-based cancer registry data to assess the burden of human papillomavirus-associated cancers in the United States: overview of methods.

Increased attention to human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers in light of the recent release of an HPV vaccine, as well as increased availability of cancer registry data that now include reporting from a large proportion of the US population, prompted the current assessment of HPV-associated cancers. This article describes methods used to assess the burden of HPV-associated cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal, and oral cavity/oropharyngeal cancers in the United States during 1998 through 2003 using cancer registry data, and it provides a brief overview of the epidemiology of these cancers.

Surveillance for cancers associated with tobacco use--United States, 1999-2004.

Problem/condition: Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States. The 2004 Surgeon General report found convincing evidence for a direct causal relationship between tobacco use and the following cancers: lung and bronchial, laryngeal, oral cavity and pharyngeal, esophageal, stomach, pancreatic, kidney and renal pelvis, urinary bladder, and cervical cancers and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). This report provides state-level cancer incidence data and recent trends for cancers associated with tobacco use.

Surveillance for health behaviors of American Indians and Alaska Natives-findings from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system, 2000-2006.

Background: The authors compared estimates for cancer risk factors, use of cancer screening tests, health status indicators, and access to care for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) in the US and for AI/ANs in 6 Indian Health Service regions.

Methods: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data were aggregated from the years 2000 through 2006 and were used to calculate weighted prevalence estimates by gender for key variables except demographic variables.

Results: Compared with NHWs, AI/ANs had lower prevalence estimates for income, educational attainment, insurance coverage, and access to personal healthcare providers.

Colorectal cancer in U.S. adults younger than 50 years of age, 1998-2001.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence rates are increasing among persons younger than 50 years of age, a population routinely not screened unless an individual has a high risk of CRC. This population-based study focuses primarily on describing the CRC burden for persons in this age group.

Methods: The data used for this study were derived from the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) surveillance systems.

Sun protective behaviors and sunburn experiences in parents of youth ages 11 to 18.

Background: Recent studies suggest that parental sun protective behaviors and communication influence their adolescents. However, there is limited information on sun protection for parents of adolescents.

Methods: A telephone-based, nationally representative prevalence study of sun exposure among youth, aged 11-18, and their parents living in households was conducted in 1998.

Cancer disparities by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

This article highlights disparities in cancer incidence, mortality, and survival in relation to race/ethnicity, and census data on poverty in the county or census tract of residence. The incidence and survival data derive from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program; mortality data are from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS); data on the prevalence of major cancer risk factors and cancer screening are from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) conducted by NCHS. For all cancer sites combined, residents of poorer counties (those with greater than or equal to 20% of the population below the poverty line) have 13% higher death rates from cancer in men and 3% higher rates in women compared with more affluent counties (less than 10% below the poverty line).

Sun-safe practices in U.S. youth and their parents: role of caregiver on youth sunscreen use.

Background: There is a limited understanding of the social influences, such as the role of parents on youth sun-safe practices, that may reduce the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

Methods: This study examined the degree of correlation in sun-safe practices between youth and their parents and assessed independent parental factors of youth sunscreen use in a 1998 cross-sectional, population-based telephone survey of U.S.

Cancer statistics for Hispanics, 2003.

In this article, the American Cancer Society (ACS) provides estimates on the number of new cancer cases and deaths, and compiles health statistics on the US Hispanic population. The compiled statistics include cancer incidence, mortality, and behaviors relevant to cancer using the most recent data on incidence from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiolgy, and End Results (SEER) Program, mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics, and behavioral information from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System [BRFSS], Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System [YRBSS], and National Health Interview Survey [NHIS].) An estimated 67,400 new cases of cancer and 22,100 cancer deaths will occur among Hispanics in 2003.

Long-term trends in cancer mortality in the United States, 1930-1998.

Background: Progress against cancer can be examined by analyzing long-term trends in cancer incidence and mortality. The recent directive from the U.S.

Cancer statistics for African Americans.

The American Cancer Society provides estimates on the number of new cancer cases and deaths, and compiles health statistics on African Americans in a biennial publication, Cancer Facts and Figures for African Americans. The compiled statistics include cancer incidence, mortality, survival, and lifestyle behaviors using the most recent data on incidence and survival from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), and behavioral information from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), and National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). It is estimated that 132,700 new cases of cancer and 63,100 deaths will occur among African Americans in the year 2003.