Learning Objective
By the end of this section, learners should be able to identify the most common cancers by incidence and mortality in males, females, and children, and understand key epidemiologic trends in the United States.
- Skin cancer (basal cell > squamous cell >> melanoma) is the most common cancer but is not included in this table.
- Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States.
Cancer Incidence by Population
| Population | Top 3 Cancers by Incidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Males | 1. Prostate 2. Lung 3. Colon/rectum |
Lung cancer incidence has decreased in males over recent decades. |
| Females | 1. Breast 2. Lung 3. Colon/rectum |
Lung cancer incidence has not changed significantly in females. |
| Children (0–14 years) | 1. Leukemia 2. CNS tumors 3. Neuroblastoma |
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Activity
Cancer Mortality by Population
| Population | Top 3 Cancers by Mortality |
|---|---|
| Males | 1. Lung 2. Prostate 3. Colon/rectum |
| Females | 1. Lung 2. Breast 3. Colon/rectum |
| Children (0–14 years) | 1. Leukemia 2. CNS tumors 3. Neuroblastoma |
Key Takeaways
- Skin cancer is extremely common, but most cases are non-lethal.
- Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both males and females.
- Childhood cancers are dominated by leukemia, CNS tumors, and neuroblastoma.
- Awareness of incidence vs. mortality is crucial for screening, prevention, and public health planning.
