Cancer has been Florida’s No. 1 killer since 2011. Researchers and doctors in Florida are active on many fronts, from screening to cutting-edge therapies.
Cancer’s Toll in Florida (2015)
43,438
Deaths statewide, all cancers
Deaths from Leading Types of Cancers:
| Cancer | Deaths |
| Lung/Bronchus | 11,663 |
| Colorectal | 3,634 |
| Breast | 2,816 |
| Prostate | 2,143 |
| Non-Hodgkin | 1,516 |
| Bladder | 1,226 |
| Head/Neck | 1,122 |
| Ovary | 895 |
| Melanoma | 717 |
| Cervix | 283 |
Source: Office of Vital Statistics
Cancer Rates
- Statewide, the incidence of all cancers in 2015 was 152.1 cases per 100,000 residents.
- Among the state’s largest counties, those with cancer rates lower than the state average include Broward (141.1), Miami-Dade (129.3), Orange (150.6) and Palm Beach (136.9).
- Larger counties with cancer rates higher than the state average include Duval (168.9), Hillsborough (160.4) and Pinellas (158.5).
- Counties with among the highest cancer rates include Calhoun, DeSoto, Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Levy, Putnam, Union and Wakulla.
- Counties with among the lowest cancer rates include Bay, Collier, Gulf, Hardee, Hendry, Lee, Liberty, Martin, Miami- Dade and Washington.
Source: Office of Vital Statistics
Florida Cancer Statistics
- Florida has the second-highest cancer burden in the nation.
- Cancer surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death for Floridians in 2011. An average of 100,000 new cancers are diagnosed and reported each year to the statewide cancer registry, the Florida Cancer Data System.
- About a third of the most common cancers are due to lifestyles — poor diet, obesity and lack of physical activity, according to the National Cancer Institute.
- The 10 common cancers that are most receptive to prevention and early detection include: Breast, cervical, childhood, colorectal, lung, lymphoma, oral and pharyngeal, ovarian, prostate and melanoma of the skin.
- The median charge per cancer hospitalization for all cancers in Florida in 2015 was $67,471. Sources: FloridaHealth.gov, Agency for Health Care Administration
Sources: FloridaHealth.gov, Agency for Health Care Administration
Read more in our February issue.
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