Background: Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States (US) and Oklahoma ranks near the top with the highest rates of mortality from cancer. The top four major sites of cancer were prostate, female breast, lung and bronchus, and colon and rectum.
Methods: Joinpoint software was used to examine the incidence and mortality for the four cancers over time from 1999-2012 for both the US and Oklahoma.
Results: Incidence and mortality rates declined from 1999-2012 for the four cancer sites. The average annual, age-adjusted incidence rate was higher in the US than Oklahoma for prostate cancer, but higher in Oklahoma for female breast, lung and bronchus, and colon and rectum cancer sites.
Conclusions: Over the course of 14 years from 1999-2012, the age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer, female breast cancer, lung and bronchus cancer, and colon and rectum cancer decreased over time nationally and in Oklahoma.