What does this measure?
The age-adjusted rate of all new cancers diagnosed per 10,000 residents, averaged over five years.
Why is this important?
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and in Massachusetts. High incidence rates can indicate environmental or behavior risks of cancers, or better diagnosis of cancers.
How is our county doing?
In 2018-22, Essex County's cancer incidence rate was 43 per 10,000 individuals, equivalent to the state rate and slightly below the national rate of 45 per 10,000. The rate in Essex declined from 51 in 2008-12. The number of new cancers diagnosed in a year was 4,500 in Essex, 38,500 in the state and 1.8 million in the nation.
How do we compare to similar counties?
Essex County's rate was slightly higher than Middlesex, MA (41), and lower than both Lake, IL at 48 per 10,000 residents, and Westchester, NY at 46.
Notes about the data
Rates have been adjusted for differences in age among the geographies.