Why Is This Important?

For decades, cancer was the second leading cause of death in the U.S. and New Jersey. In 2020, it was New Jersey's third leading cause of death after heart disease and COVID-19.

Definition

Deaths with malignant neoplasm (cancer) as the underlying cause of death. ICD-10 codes: C00-C97

Data Sources

• Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  (https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
• Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
  (https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/)
• Underlying Cause of Death, CDC WONDER On-line Database, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  (https://wonder.cdc.gov/Deaths-by-Underlying-Cause.html)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

The age-adjusted death rate due to cancer has been slowly declining for many years. In New Jersey, more than 15,000 deaths each year are due to cancer. In the total population and among each racial/ethnic group, males have higher death rates than females. The age-adjusted death rate due to cancer is highest among Blacks and Whites in New Jersey. County rates per 100,000 population (age-adjusted) range from a low of 112 in Hudson to a high of 180 in Cumberland. The revised Healthy New Jersey 2020 targets were achieved by all racial/ethnic groups except Asians.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Since 2012, the New Jersey age-adjusted death rate due to cancer has been statistically significantly below that of the U.S. as a whole.

What Is Being Done?

The [https://www.nj.gov/health/ces/public/resources/occp.shtml Office of Cancer Control and Prevention] (OCCP) coordinates comprehensive cancer control efforts in New Jersey and participates in the national efforts of the CDC to establish state-based comprehensive cancer control plans, conduct prevention of cancer risk factors, enhance early detection of preventable cancers, and facilitate survivorship through the activities of its Regional Chronic Disease Coalitions. The [https://nj.gov/health/ces/public/resources/njceed.shtml New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection] (NJCEED) Program provides comprehensive outreach, education and screening services for breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancers to eligible residents.

Evidence-based Practices

The risk of getting many common kinds of cancer can be lowered by making healthy choices like keeping a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco, and limiting alcohol consumption. Getting screening tests regularly may find breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers early, when treatment is likely to work best. Vaccines can help prevent several kinds of cancer. For example, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine helps prevent most cervical cancers and several other kinds of cancer and the hepatitis B vaccine can help lower liver cancer risk.[https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prevention/ ^1^]

Other Objectives

There are several Healthy New Jersey and Healthy People objectives related to specific types of cancer. They are addressed in separate indicator profiles.

Available Services

The New Jersey Department of Health has many cancer-related programs and services [https://nj.gov/health/ces/public/ for the public].

More Resources

CDC Cancer Prevention and Control: [http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/] National Cancer Institute: [http://www.cancer.gov/]

Health Program Information

NJDOH cancer programs and information: [https://nj.gov/health/ces/]

Footnote References

1. [https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prevention/ Preventing Cancer]