Epidemiology Research

The Cancer Institute's Epidemiology Research Program studies the incidence, distribution, and control of cancer in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Study results are being used for research strategies and education programs designed to prevent or reduce death and disability from cancer in this community.

Cancer Incidence and Mortality

To access the Standardized Incidence and Mortality Ratio maps for 1998-2003, please select form the search criteria below. 

Year:
Gender:
Cancer Type:

To view the Standardized Incidence Ratio maps for 1995-1999,  please click on the links below.

All Cancers Brain and Other Nervous System
All Cancer Sites SIR for 9 counties 95-99 Brain and Other Nervous Cancer SIR for 9 counties 95-99
All Cancer Sites SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99 Brain and Other Nervous Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99
All Cancer Sites SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99 Brain and Other Nervous Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99
Breast Bronchus and Lung
Breast Cancer SIR for 9 counties 95-99 Bronchus and Lung Cancer SIR for 9 counties 95-99
Breast Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99 Bronchus and Lung Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99
Breast Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99 Bronchus and Lung Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99
Cervix Uteri Colon and Rectum
Cervix Uteri Cancer SIR for 9 counties 95-99 Colon and Rectum Cancer SIR for 9 counties 95-99
  Colon and Rectum Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99
  Colon and Rectum Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99
Corpus Uteri Esophagus
Corpus Uteri Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99 Esophagus Cancer SIR for 9 counties 95-99
  Esophagus Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99
  Esophagus Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99
Kidney Renal Pelvis Larynx
Kidney Renal Pelvis Cancer SIR for 9 counties 95-99 Larynx SIR for 9 counties 95-99
Kidney Renal Pelvis Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99 Larynx SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99
Kidney Renal Pelvis Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99 Larynx SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99
Lymphatic and Hematopoietic Tissues
Hodgkin's Disease SIR for 9 counties 95-99 Leukemias SIR for 9 counties 95-99
Hodgkin's Disease SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99 Leukemias SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99
Hodgkin's Disease SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99 Leukemias SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma SIR for 9 counties 95-99 Multiple Myeloma SIR for 9 counties 95-99
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99 Multiple Myeloma SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99 Multiple Myeloma SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99
Oral Cavity and Pharynx Ovary
Oral Cavity and Pharynx Cancer SIR for 9 counties 95-99 Ovarian Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99
Oral Cavity and Pharynx Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99  
Oral Cavity and Pharynx Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99  
Pancreas Prostate
Pancreas Cancer SIR for 9 counties 95-99 Prostate Cancer SIR for 9 counties 95-99
Pancreas Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99  
Pancreas Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99  
Skin Stomach
Melanoma of Skin SIR for 9 counties 95-99 Stomach Cancer SIR for 9 counties 95-99
Melanoma of Skin SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99 Stomach Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99
Melanoma of Skin SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99 Stomach Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99
Testis Thyroid
Testis Cancer SIR for 9 counties 95-99 Thyroid Cancer SIR for 9 counties 95-99
  Thyroid Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99
  Thyroid Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99
Urinary Bladder  
Urinary Bladder Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Men 95-99  
Urinary Bladder Cancer SIR for 9 counties 95-99  
Urinary Bladder Cancer SIR for 9 counties, Women 95-99  
   

Technical Notes


Standardized Incidence Ratios
The maps on these pages display Standardized Incidence Ratios (SIRs) of selected cancers.  An SIR is the ratio of the number of observed:expected cancer cases and is expressed as a percent.  SIRs are calculated by dividing the number of cancer cases observed (actual) in a county over five years by the number of cases that are expected to occur in that county, and then multiplying the dividend by 100.  SIR = (Observed/Expected) X 100.  For example, an SIR of 150 means that there were 50% more cancer cases in a county than expected.  An SIR of 60 means that the number of cancer cases detected was only 60% of the number expected.

The observed cases are the total number of primary cancer cases reported to the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry.*  Please note, this is not necessarily the same as the number of people who were diagnosed with cancer; some individuals may have more than one primary malignancy diagnosed in this time period.  The expected cases are the total number of primary cancers that are expected to occur in the county if the residents of the county had experienced the same age-specific cancer incidence rates as the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program.

On the maps shown here, counties with an SIR of 100 or greater are shown in shades of red; counties with SIRs less than 100 are shown in blue.  Counties with insufficient data, i.e., fewer than five observed cases, are colored gray.  Statistical significance is indicated by the shade of the color.  Counties shown in dark red had an SIR that was statistically significantly higher than expected (p < 0.05).  Counties shown in pink had SIRs that were elevated but which were not significantly higher than expected.  Counties shown in dark blue had SIRs that were significantly lower than expected; and counties in light blue had SIRs that were low but which were not significantly lower than expected. 

Statistical Significance
Statistical significance is an indication that the results were not likely to have been due to chance.  Counties with statistically significant elevated SIRs (shown in dark red) are counties where the cancer incidence was higher than expected and this difference was not likely to have been due to chance alone.  Similarly, counties with significantly reduced SIRs (shown in dark blue) are counties where cancer incidence was lower than expected and this difference was also not due to chance alone.  Counties shown in pink or light blue had SIRs that were either higher or lower than expected but these differences could have been simply due to chance.  An SIR that is not statistically significant should not be interpreted as evidence that cancer risk is unusually high (or low) in that county.
 

Data Source

* These data were provided by the Bureau of Health Statistics and Research, Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Department specifically disclaims responsibility for any analyses, interpretations or conclusions.

 



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