Assessing the burden of cancer in Texas using vital statistics data

Background. Vital statistics data were used to describe the burden of cance r in Texas. Methods. Average annual age-adjusted mortality data in Texas (1986 to 1990) for 17 cancer types were compared with the US data for whites and blacks a nd with California data for Hispanics. Trends were examined from 1980 to 19 90 for the entire state and from 1976 to 1989 for 24 geographic regions wit hin the state. Results. Mortality excesses were detected for lung and liver cancer, and de ficits for colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers. Rates were generally s table from 1980 to 1990 with several exceptions (lung, liver, colon). Six a reas of Texas, including four areas along the Gulf Coast, had relatively mo re excesses of various cancers, without a discernible pattern by cancer typ e. Conclusions. Overall, Texas has fared favorably in cancer mortality when co mpared with the United States. Enhanced evaluation of the frequency of canc er, as well as the conduct of etiologic research, must await the availabili ty of statewide long-term cancer incidence data.