Breast cancer screening, incidence, and mortality in West Virginia.

Situated entirely in the Appalachian region, West Virginia (WV) as a state is characterized by a diverse population, with a major portion of the population residing in rural areas. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women residents of the state. Using different data sources, we have reported the most recent screening, incidence, and mortality information associated with breast cancer in WV.

Cancer in Appalachia, 2001-2003.

Background: Researchers have not been able to examine cancer incidence rates in Appalachia because high-quality data have not been uniformly available across the region. This study is the first to report cancer incidence rates for a large proportion of the Appalachian population and describe the differences in incidence rates between Northern, Central, and Southern Appalachia.

Methods: Forty-four states and the District of Columbia provided information for the diagnosis years 2001 through 2003 from cancer registries that met high-quality data criteria.

Cancer incidence in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia: disparities in Appalachia.

Context: Composed of all or a portion of 13 states, Appalachia is a heterogeneous, economically disadvantaged region of the eastern United States. While mortality from cancer in Appalachia has previously been reported to be elevated, rates of cancer incidence in Appalachia remain unreported.

Purpose: To estimate Appalachian cancer incidence by stage and site and to determine if incidence was greater than that in the United States.