Ocean County Cancer Coalition

Facts and Statistics

Click Here For Up-to-date Statistics:
Ocean County Cancer Fact Sheet: [English pdf 140kb]

Overall Risk

In 2007 it is estimated that 33,910 males and 26,030 females will be diagnosed with melanoma in the United States.
In the United States alone approximately 8,110 people will die from melanoma in 2007.
1 in 80 people in the United States will develop melanoma in their lifetime.
Incidence of melanoma is increasing by 3% each year.
The American Cancer Society states that in 2007 melanoma will be the 6^th leading cancer making up 4% of cancers in women and 6% in men.

Risk Factors

A major risk factor for developing melanoma is exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Natural source of ultraviolet radiation from the sun as well as artificial ultraviolet radiation from tanning beds and booths contribute to total exposure time of radiation.
Risk is also increased if people are exposed to the sunlight during its most intense hours.
The risk of developing melanoma is also higher for people who live in areas where there is intense year round sunshine.
Chances of developing melanoma also increase as a person gets older.
People with family history of melanoma are at risk for developing the disease. More so because they spend time as a family in the sun rather than any genetic reasons.

Genetic Risk Factors

People with fair skin and light eye and hair color have a higher risk of developing melanoma.
People who have the highest risk of melanoma have many moles, irregular moles, or large moles.
Males have a greater risk of developing melanoma than females.

Ocean County Statistics

During the years of 2001-2005 there were 1491 incidences of melanoma in Ocean County.
During the same time period there were 119 deaths attributed to melanoma.

Overall Risk

The American Cancer Society predicted that 178,480 women will be diagnosed with and 40,460 women will die of breast cancer in 2007
From 2000-2004, the median age at diagnosis for cancer of the breast was 61 years of age
Based on rates from 2002-2004, 12.28% of women born today will be diagnosed with cancer of the breast at some time during their lifetime
1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with cancer of the breast during their lifetime.

Risk Factors

Age: The chance of getting breast cancer increases as a woman grows older. Approximately 1 in 8 breast cancer diagnoses are in women under the age of 45. 2 out of 3 women with invasive breast cancer are aged 55 or older when diagnosed.
Genetic Risk Factors: Nearly 5-10% of all cases are thought to be hereditary. They result directly from gene changes/mutations inherited from the patient’s parent.
Family History: The risk of breast cancer is higher in women who have a close blood relative with the disease. About 20-30% of women with breast cancer have a family member with the disease as well. If a woman has one first-degree relative with breast cancer her risk is doubled. With 2 first-degree relatives the risk is increased five-fold.
Personal History: A woman with cancer in one breast has a 3-4 times increased chance of developing a new cancer in the other breast or another portion of the same breast.
Race: White women have a slightly higher chance of developing breast cancer as compared to African-American women. African-American women have a higher chance of breast cancer leading to death.

Ocean County Statistics

From the period of 2000-2004, there have been 124 deaths annually from breast cancer in Ocean County.
In the same rate period, 534 new cases were found annually .