Executive Summary
1988-2000

Volume 18 of Cancer in Louisiana features Parish Profiles, 1988-2000, a parish level cancer incidence monograph and the first of its kind produced for Louisiana. With the accumulation of 13 years of statewide data, the ability to analyze data over smaller geographic areas in scientifically meaningful and reliable ways has been greatly enhanced.

Beginning with 1999 cancer incidence data, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services adopted the 2000 U.S. standard population for age adjustment. Therefore, the age-adjusted rates presented in this report are adjusted to the new 2000 U.S. standard population, and caution should be used when comparing data with previously published cancer incidence rates that were adjusted to the 1970 U.S. standard population.

There were 237,608 new cases of invasive cancer diagnosed among residents of Louisiana during the years 1988-2000, averaging about 18,278 cases per year. The average number of incident cancer cases per year varied by parish from 26 cases in St. Helena to 2,282 cases in Orleans. For males and females of all races, the average annual age-adjusted (2000 U.S. Standard) cancer incidence rate for all sites combined was 472 cases per 100,000 persons.

The incidence rate for cancer of all sites combined was 59% higher among males than females in Louisiana. This pattern of higher cancer incidence among males than females is similar to that observed in the U.S. and in each of Louisiana’s 64 parishes. Black males in Louisiana and in the United States are the most likely group to develop cancer and die with the disease. During the period 1988-2000, the incidence rate for all sites cancer was approximately 12% higher among black males in Louisiana than among white males. This general pattern was observed in most of Louisiana’s parishes with some variability for parishes with small black populations.

Five Most Common Cancers

During the period 1988-2000, cancers of the lung, prostate, breast, colon & rectum, and bladder were, in order, the five most commonly diagnosed cancers in Louisiana. Though the order varied among the 64 parishes, these cancers were the most frequently diagnosed in each of the 64 parishes with the exception of the fifth most common cancer. Other cancers that ranked fifth in some parishes were: bladder cancer (33 parishes), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (18 parishes), and pancreatic cancer (7 parishes).

All Sites Cancer

The incidence rate of cancer of all sites combined among white males was highest in Richland Parish (681.8 per 100,000) and lowest in St. Helena Parish (346.2 per 100,000). In Cameron, Concordia, Madison, St. Helena, and Tensas parishes, all sites cancer rates among white males were statistically significantly lower than the Louisiana rate by at least 20%. There were no parishes with rates significantly higher by 20% than Louisiana’s rate for cancer of all sites combined among white males.

The incidence rate of cancer of all sites combined among white females was highest in West Baton Rouge Parish (445.2 per 100,000) and lowest in St. Helena (229.3 per 100,000). In Assumption, Catahoula, Concordia, Madison, St. Helena, and Tensas parishes, all sites cancer rates among white females were significantly lower than Louisiana’s by at least 20%. There were no parishes with rates significantly higher by 20% than Louisiana’s rate for cancer of all sites combined among white females.

The rate of all sites cancer among black males was highest in West Carroll Parish (1070.2 per 100,000) and lowest in St. Helena (349.8 per 100,000). In the parishes of Acadia, St. Bernard, and West Carroll, the rates of cancer of all sites combined among black males were statistically significantly higher than Louisiana’s rate by at least 20%. In Concordia, Red River, St. Helena, Tensas, and Vernon parishes, all sites cancer rates among black males were significantly lower than Louisiana’s rate by 20%.

The rate of all sites cancer among black females was highest in Cameron Parish (557.9 per 100,000) and lowest in St. Helena Parish (195.6 per 100,000). Acadia was the only parish with an incidence rate for cancer of all sites among black females that was statistically significantly higher than the Louisiana rate by 20%. The all sites cancer rates among black females in Catahoula, Claiborne, Red River, St. Helena, Tensas, and Winn parishes were significantly lower than Louisiana’s rate by 20%.

Cancer of the Lung and Bronchus

The average annual age-adjusted (2000 U.S) incidence rate of lung cancer among white males was highest in Caldwell Parish (173.0 per 100,000) and lowest in St. Helena Parish (76.8 per 100,000). In the parishes of Assumption, Caldwell, Richland, St. Bernard, Union, Washington, and West Carroll, the rates of lung cancer among white males were statistically significantly higher than Louisiana’s rate by at least 20%. Lung cancer incidence rates among white males were significantly lower than the Louisiana rate by 20% in the parishes of Claiborne and Red River.

The incidence rate of lung cancer among white females was highest in St. Bernard Parish (72.7 per 100,000) and lowest in St. James (28.4 per 100,000). Iberia and St. Bernard were the parishes where the lung cancer incidence rates among white females were significantly higher than the Louisiana rate by 20%. In Avoyelles, Claiborne, Lafourche, Morehouse, Pointe Coupee, St. James, and Terrebonne parishes, lung cancer incidence rates among white females were statistically significantly lower than Louisiana’s rate by 20%.

The rate of lung cancer among black males was highest in Grant Parish (223.2 per 100,000) and lowest in St. Helena Parish (80.4 per 100,000). In the parishes of Acadia, Avoyelles, Iberia, Lafayette, Tangipahoa, and Vermilion, the rates of lung cancer among black males were statistically significantly higher than Louisiana’s rate by at least 20%. Lung cancer incidence rates among black males were significantly lower than the Louisiana rate by 20% in Concordia, Madison, and St. Helena parishes.

The rate of lung cancer among black females was highest in Livingston Parish (94.0 per 100,000) and lowest in St. Helena Parish (18.2 per 100,000). Acadia, Calcasieu, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, and Tangipahoa were the parishes where the lung cancer incidence rates among black females were significantly higher than the Louisiana rate by 20%. In the parishes of Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, De Soto, and St. Helena, lung cancer incidence rates among black females were significantly lower than Louisiana’s rate by 20%.

Prostate Cancer

The average annual age-adjusted (2000 U.S) incidence rate of prostate cancer among white males was highest in Ascension Parish (217.2 per 100,000) and lowest in Concordia Parish (78.4 per 100,000). In Ascension, Bienville, and East Baton Rouge parishes, the rates of prostate cancer among white males were statistically significantly higher than the Louisiana rate by at least 20%. Prostate cancer incidence rates among white males were statistically significantly lower than the Louisiana rate by 20% in the parishes of Allen, Avoyelles, Cameron, Concordia, Evangeline, Lafourche, Madison, Pointe Coupee, Terrebonne and Vernon.

The rate of prostate cancer among black males was highest in West Carroll Parish (445.0 per 100,000) and lowest in Vernon Parish (84.4 per 100,000). Bienville, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Lincoln, Morehouse, Tangipahoa, Washington, Webster and West Carroll were the parishes where the prostate cancer incidence rates among black males were significantly higher than the Louisiana rate by 20%. In the parishes of Concordia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafourche, St. Helena, St. Landry, Terrebonne and Vernon, prostate cancer incidence rates among black males were significantly lower than the Louisiana rate by 20%.

Breast Cancer

The incidence rate of breast cancer among white females was highest in East Feliciana Parish (148.8 per 100,000) and lowest in Madison Parish (58.3 per 100,000). East Feliciana Parish was the only parish with an incidence rate for cancer of the breast among white females that was statistically significantly higher than the Louisiana rate by 20%. In Allen, Assumption, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, La Salle, Madison, Sabine, St. Helena, West Carroll and Winn parishes, breast cancer incidence rates among white females were significantly lower than Louisiana’s rate by 20%.

The rate of breast cancer among black females was highest in Acadia Parish (143.6 per 100,000) and lowest in Winn Parish (51.8 per 100,000). In Acadia and Iberia parishes, the breast cancer incidence rates among black females were significantly higher by 20% than the Louisiana rate. Breast cancer incidence rates among black females were statistically significantly lower than the Louisiana rate by 20% in Avoyelles, Bossier, Concordia, Franklin, Madison, Natchitoches, Rapides, St. Helena, Tensas and Winn parishes.

Cancer of the Colon & Rectum

The rate of cancer of the colon & rectum among white males was highest in West Feliciana Parish (90.3 per 100,000) and lowest in Madison Parish (26.9 per 100,000). In Cameron, Livingston and Madison parishes, the rates of cancer of the colon & rectum among white males were statistically significantly lower than Louisiana’s rate by at least 20%. There were no parishes with rates significantly higher by 20% than Louisiana’s rate for cancer of the colon & rectum among white males.

The rate of cancer of the colon & rectum among white females was highest in Red River Parish (67.7 per 100,000) and lowest in Madison Parish (25.5 per 100,000). Grant Parish was the only parish with an incidence rate for cancer of the colon & rectum among white females that was statistically significantly higher by 20% than the Louisiana rate. The rates of cancer of the colon & rectum among white females in Concordia and Jefferson Davis parishes were significantly lower than Louisiana’s rate by at least 20%.

The rate of colorectal cancer among black males was highest in Sabine Parish (112.3 per 100,000) and lowest in St. Helena Parish (25.7 per 100,000). In Acadia Parish, the incidence rate of cancer of the colon & rectum among black males was statistically significantly higher by 20% than the Louisiana rate. Colorectal cancer incidence rates among black males in St. Helena, Union, and Winn parishes were significantly lower than the Louisiana rate by 20%.

The rate of cancer of the colon & rectum among black females was highest in St. Bernard Parish (83.5 per 100,000) and lowest in St. Helena Parish (19.5 per 100,000). No parish had rates for cancer of the colon & rectum that were statistically significantly higher by 20% than the Louisiana rate. The colorectal cancer incidence rate in St. Helena Parish was significantly lower by 20% than the Louisiana rate.

Childhood Cancer

Among children aged 14 years or less, the number of cancer diagnoses varied widely by parish, ranging from one case to 176 cases per parish during the 13-year period, 1988-2000. The small number of cases precludes a detailed analysis by parish and readers are referred to: Cancer in Louisiana, Volume 14, Childhood Cancer in Louisiana, 1988-1996.

To download that volume in PDF format, click here.