Cancer in Arkansas
Historical trends between 1981 and 2005 show higher mortality rates for Arkansans than the national average, proving much work remains to be done in our state. According to the National Cancer Institute's state cancer profiles, Arkansas has an annual death rate of 207.3 per 100,000 in comparison to the United States' 189.8. Areas of particular concern include Howard, Searcy, Logan and Van Buren counties, all which have rising cancer mortality rates based on a 1981-2005 recent trend period.
According to the American Cancer Society's Cancer Facts and Figures for 2007, an estimated 14,130 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Arkansas and 6,240 Arkansans will die from cancer in 2007. These figures present sizable challenges, but the Coalition exists to work toward reducing cancer's burden in Arkansas.
The leading causes of cancer deaths and incidence among all Arkansans by race and gender can be found in Table 1, below.
Table 1.
| Site | All | Female | Male | White | Black |
| Lung and Bronchus | 68.80 | 46.40 | 99.60 | 69.20 | 67.00 |
| Prostate (males only) | 30.40 | 30.40 | 26.00 | 73.10 | |
| Colon and Rectum | 21.10 | 24.10 | 26.00 | 20.10 | 30.10 |
| Miscellaneous | 13.90 | 11.10 | 17.90 | 13.60 | 17.10 |
| Breast | 13.80 | 24.30 | 12.80 | 20.60 | |
| Pancreas | 10.30 | 9.00 | 11.90 | 9.80 | 13.80 |
| Ovary (females only) | 8.50 | 8.50 | 8.60 | 7.80 | |
| Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma | 7.60 | 6.00 | 9.90 | 8.80 | 3.70 |
| Liver and Intra-hepatic Bile Duct | 5.40 | 3.80 | 7.50 | 5.30 | 6.50 |
| Urinary Bladder | 4.00 | 1.90 | 7.20 | 4.10 | 2.70 |
| Cervix Uteri (females only) | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.30 | 6.50 | |
| Kidney and Renal Pelvis | 4.40 | 3.00 | 6.10 | 4.40 | 4.90 |
Table 2.
| Site | All | Female | Male | White | Black |
| Lung and BronchusF | 81.90 | 57.80 | 113.80 | 82.80 | 74.00 |
| Prostate (males only) | 154.40 | 154.40 | 146.70 | 223.20 | |
| Colon and Rectum | 50.60 | 43.10 | 60.30 | 49.80 | 55.50 |
| Miscellaneous | 14.80 | 12.60 | 17.80 | 14.40 | 16.70 |
| Breast | 63.80 | 117.10 | 63.70 | 59.00 | |
| Pancreas | 9.60 | 8.40 | 11.20 | 9.10 | 13.10 |
| Ovary (females only) | 11.40 | 11.40 | 11.70 | 9.00 |
Arkansas has made profound steps to improve cancer awareness, prevention, screening and treatment resources for citizens across the state. Despite this progress, barriers to prevention and screening services still exist, and gaps in diagnosis and treatment need to be filled. In 2008, the Coalition in partnership with the American Cancer Society and the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus listened to the testimonies of five Arkansas cancer survivors, and as a result, identified the following themes to decrease cancer's burden in Arkansas:
- There is a strong need to enhance provider education and continuing education opportunities.
- A statewide health literacy and consumer empowerment campaign is an important strategy used to equip Arkansans to proactively seek and manage their healthcare.
- Existing cancer care legislation has proven successful, and any effort to sustain or increase funding allocations should be considered.
- Replication of successful cancer prevention and treatment programs taking place in Arkansas and other states should be utilized as a means to provide increased access to services and contain program costs.
- All Arkansans deserve to have access to affordable and appropriate healthcare coverage. Consideration for increased funding, staffing and program integration opportunities is needed to address the uninsured.
- Improved communication and enhanced community connections between patients, providers, healthcare facilities and other health system stakehliders will be essential as Arkansas moves forward in combating cancer.
Arkansas Central Cancer Registry
Arkansas Central Cancer Registry (ACCR) tracks cancer incidence by counties within Arkansas. Click here to find statistical data of population at risk, total cases, crude rate, age-adjusted rate, statewide age-adjusted rate and more.
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a standardized, random telephone health survey conducted in each state under the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It collects information on health risk behaviors, preventitive health practices and healthcare access primarily related to chronic disease and injury. For more about the BRFSS, click here.
Arkansas BRFSS PARTNER:
LaTonya R. Bynum, Senior Programmer/Analyst
Arkansas BRFSS Survey Coordinator
Survey Section, Health Statistics Branch
Center for Public Health Practice
Arkansas Department of Health
4815 West Markham Street Slot H19, Room 370
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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Toll Free: 1-800-462-0599 EXT. 2003
Phone: 501-661-2003
Message: 501-661-2368
Fax: 501-661-2544
Email: latonya.bynum@arkansas.gov
Website: http://www.brfss.arkansas.gov
National BRFSS Partner
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the world's largest, on-going telephone health survey system, tracking health conditions and risk behaviors in the United States yearly since 1984.
Currently, data are collected monthly in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. Learn More >>