Cancer Among Women

Note: The numbers in parentheses are the rates per 100,000 women of all races and Hispanic‡ origins combined in the United States.

Three Most Common Cancers Among Women

Breast cancer (120.4)

• First among women of all races and Hispanic* origin populations.

Lung cancer (54.5)

• Second among white, black, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.
• Third among Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic* women.

Colorectal cancer (39.7)

• Second among Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic* women.
• Third among white, black, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.

Leading Causes of Cancer Death Among Women

Lung cancer (40.0)

• First among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.
• Second among Hispanic* women.

Breast cancer (22.8)

• First among Hispanic* women.
• Second among white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women.

Colorectal cancer (14.1)

• Third among women of all races and Hispanic* origin populations.

Source: U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2007 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2010. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/uscs. (full site)

*Hispanic origin is not mutually exclusive from race categories (white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native).