UH Cancer Center’s Hawaiʻi Tumor Registry releases updated cancer statistics
The University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center’s Hawaiʻi Tumor Registry recently released updated cancer statistics in a publication, Hawaiʻi Cancer at a Glance, 2014-2018 (PDF). This report informs the community about the impact of cancer across our state; it also describes the numbers and rates of individuals newly diagnosed with cancer, those surviving after a cancer diagnosis, and deaths that result from cancer. Hawaiʻi’s cancer burden is also compared with that of the United States overall.
The Hawaiʻi Tumor Registry is responsible for cancer surveillance in the state of Hawaiʻi and collects confidential data on cancer diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes that tracks cancer trends in the state and the U.S.
Hawaiʻi’s geographical and demographic diversity plays an important role in the Hawaiʻi Cancer at a Glance, 2014-2018 report on variations in cancer incidence and mortality by county, and across various racial and ethnic groups. Disparities in cancer risk and outcomes across racial and ethnic groups may reflect genetic variations as well as differences in diet, tobacco and alcohol use, obesity, and other lifestyle exposures.
Annually, an average of 7,393 Hawaiʻi residents are diagnosed with invasive cancer and 2,393 individuals die from this disease. There are over 66,779 Hawaiʻi residents who are cancer survivors. Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer deaths in the state. Breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women, while prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men.
Understanding the burden of cancer in Hawaiʻi is critical in identifying priorities and needs with respect to cancer research, community education, and cancer care, such as screening, diagnosis, and treatment. “Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in Hawaiʻi,” said Brenda Hernandez, PhD, MPH, Hawaiʻi Tumor Registry Principal Investigator. “Research is key to ultimately reducing the suffering from this disease that touches so many in our community.”
The Hawaiʻi Tumor Registry plays a significant role in the UH Cancer Center’s mission to reduce the burden of cancer by identifying cancers with excess incidence and mortality in Hawaiʻi’s population for which research is needed on prevention, early detection, and treatment. Comparisons found in cancer statistics across racial and ethnic groups also allow identification of high-risk populations for which research on diet, lifestyle, and genetics is necessary.
The Hawaiʻi Tumor Registry is a funded registry of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program (Contract Award No. HHSN261201800011I).
