State Cancer Profiles

Interpretation of Incidence Rates Data

Incidence Rate Report for Washington by County

Oral Cavity & Pharynx (Late Stage^), 2018-2022

All Races (includes Hispanic), Both Sexes, All Ages

Sorted by Count

Explanation of Column Headers
Incidence Rate (95% Confidence Interval) - The incidence rate is based upon 100,000 people and is an annual rate (or average annual rate) based on the time period indicated. Rates are age-adjusted by 5-year age groups to the 2000 U.S. standard million population.

Percent of Cases with Late Stage - This is the number of late stages cases compared to the number of cases for all stages.

Other Notes

• Larger confidence intervals indicate less stability of the data. This is often due to low counts that are not quite low enough to be suppressed.
• Data is currently being suppressed if there are fewer than 16 counts for the time period.

Line by Line Interpretation of the Report

Washington¹

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : N/A
• Rate : The incidence rate is 7.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 7.5 to 8.0 and 734 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : N/A

US (SEER+NPCR)¹

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : N/A
• Rate : The incidence rate is 7.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 7.7 to 7.8 and 32,341 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : N/A

Pacific County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate : The incidence rate is 9.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 5.2 to 16.9 and 4 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 7 (1, 27)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Kittitas County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate : The incidence rate is 6.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 4.1 to 10.9 and 4 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 20 (2, 27)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Okanogan County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate : The incidence rate is 6.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 3.7 to 10.5 and 4 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 23 (3, 27)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Douglas County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 7.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 4.5 to 11.7 and 4 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 17 (2, 27)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Grant County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate : The incidence rate is 4.1 with a 95% confidence interval from 2.5 to 6.3 and 4 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 27 (19, 27)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Chelan County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 4.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 2.8 to 6.2 and 6 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 26 (20, 27)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Walla Walla County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 6.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 4.3 to 9.9 and 6 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 22 (3, 27)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Franklin County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 7.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 5.1 to 10.8 and 6 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 15 (2, 27)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Mason County⁷

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate : The incidence rate is 6.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 4.6 to 9.7 and 7 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 21 (5, 27)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Lewis County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate : The incidence rate is 7.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 5.3 to 10.2 and 9 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 19 (3, 26)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Jefferson County⁷

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate : The incidence rate is 12.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 8.9 to 18.7 and 10 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 1 (1, 18)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Grays Harbor County⁷

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate : The incidence rate is 8.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 6.3 to 11.7 and 10 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 11 (1, 25)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Cowlitz County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 7.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 5.6 to 10.0 and 11 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 14 (3, 25)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Island County⁷

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate : The incidence rate is 9.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 7.5 to 12.6 and 14 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 6 (1, 20)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Clallam County⁷

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate : The incidence rate is 11.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 8.6 to 14.6 and 16 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 2 (1, 16)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Yakima County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 6.3 with a 95% confidence interval from 5.0 to 7.8 and 17 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 24 (12, 26)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Skagit County⁷

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 9.9 with a 95% confidence interval from 7.9 to 12.3 and 18 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 5 (1, 19)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Benton County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 8.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 7.0 to 10.4 and 22 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 12 (3, 22)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Whatcom County⁷

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 10.0 with a 95% confidence interval from 8.3 to 11.9 and 28 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 4 (1, 16)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Thurston County⁷

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 8.9 with a 95% confidence interval from 7.6 to 10.4 and 34 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 10 (3, 20)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Kitsap County⁷

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 10.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 8.8 to 11.9 and 38 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 3 (1, 14)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Spokane County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 5.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 5.0 to 6.7 and 39 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 25 (17, 26)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Clark County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 7.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 6.5 to 8.5 and 47 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 16 (10, 23)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Snohomish County⁷

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 9.1 with a 95% confidence interval from 8.3 to 10.0 and 88 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 9 (3, 16)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Pierce County⁷

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 9.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 8.7 to 10.4 and 101 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 8 (2, 14)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

King County⁷

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate : The incidence rate is 7.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 6.9 to 7.9 and 187 average annual cases over 2018-2022.
• CI*Rank ⋔ : 18 (12, 22)
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage :

Adams County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate :
• CI*Rank ⋔ : *
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage : *

Asotin County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate :
• CI*Rank ⋔ : *
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage : *

Columbia County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate :
• CI*Rank ⋔ : *
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage : *

Ferry County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate :
• CI*Rank ⋔ : *
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage : *

Garfield County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate :
• CI*Rank ⋔ : *
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage : *

Klickitat County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate :
• CI*Rank ⋔ : *
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage : *

Lincoln County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate :
• CI*Rank ⋔ : *
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage : *

Pend Oreille County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate :
• CI*Rank ⋔ : *
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage : *

San Juan County⁷

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate :
• CI*Rank ⋔ : *
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage : *

Skamania County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate :
• CI*Rank ⋔ : *
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage : *

Stevens County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Urban
• Rate :
• CI*Rank ⋔ : *
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage : *

Wahkiakum County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate :
• CI*Rank ⋔ : *
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage : *

Whitman County²

• 2023 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes Φ : Rural
• Rate :
• CI*Rank ⋔ : *
• Percent of Cases with Late Stage : *

Notes:
Created by statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov on 03/12/2026 6:08 am.

State Cancer Registries may provide more current or more local data.



† Incidence rates (cases per 100,000 population per year) are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population (SEER areas use 20 age groups and NPCR areas use 19 age groups). Rates are for invasive cancer only (except for bladder cancer which is invasive and in situ) or unless otherwise specified. Rates calculated using SEER*Stat. Population counts for denominators are based on Census populations as modified by NCI. The US Population Data File is used for SEER and NPCR incidence rates.

Rates are computed using cancers classified as malignant based on ICD-O-3. For more information see malignant.html.

^ Late Stage is defined as cases determined to be regional or distant. Due to changes in stage coding, Combined Summary Stage with Expanded Regional Codes (2004+) is used for data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) databases and Merged Summary Stage is used for data from National Program of Cancer Registries databases. Due to the increased complexity with staging, other staging variables maybe used if necessary.

⋔ Results presented with the CI*Rank statistics help show the usefulness of ranks. For example, ranks for relatively rare diseases or less populated areas may be essentially meaningless because of their large variability, but ranks for more common diseases in densely populated regions can be very useful. The rates used in CI*Rank are all age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population using 19 age groups for SEER and NPCR areas. More information about methodology can be found on the CI*Rank website.

Φ Rural–urban county classifications are based on the 2023 USDA Rural–Urban Continuum Codes (except for Connecticut Counties which use 2013 codes). State-level cancer rates for rural areas are calculated using cancer cases registered exclusively in rural counties, while state-level cancer rates for urban areas are calculated using cases registered exclusively in urban counties.

¹ Source: National Program of Cancer Registries and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results SEER*Stat Database - United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute. Based on the 2024 submission.

² Source: National Program of Cancer Registries SEER*Stat Database - United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (based on the 2024 submission).

⁷ Source: SEER November 2024 submission.

* Data has been suppressed to ensure confidentiality and stability of rate estimates. Counts are suppressed if fewer than 16 records were reported in a specific area-sex-race category.

Data for United States does not include Puerto Rico.