Trends in Missouri lung cancer rates

This study presents trend analysis of Missouri lung cancer incidence and mortality, and makes comparisons to U.S. rates. Utilizing 1985-1992 data from the Missouri Cancer Registry, we calculated incidence rates by disease diagnosis year. Missouri Center for Health Information Management and Epidemiology data were used to calculate 1980-1996 mortality rates. Missouri's overall yearly lung cancer incidence rate increased from 60.5 to 62.5 per 100,000 during 1985-1992, while lung cancer mortality increased 25% from 1980-1996. The best method to reduce Missouri's rates of lung cancer is tobacco-use prevention and cessation.