State Cancer Profiles

Interpretation of Rate/Trend Comparison by Cancer Data

Death Rate/Trend Comparison by Cancer, 2019-2023

Alaska Boroughs and Census Areas versus United States

All Cancer Sites

All Races, Male

Sorted by count

Explanation of Column Headers

State/County - The site and sex combination for this comparison.

Priority Index ¹ - The priority index is based upon the direction of the trend and the rate comparison. An index of 1 is the highest priority - that trend is rising and the rate is already higher. An index of 9 is the lowest priority - the trend is falling and the rate is already lower.

Recent Trends - This is an interpretation of the AAPC:

• Rising when 95% confidence interval of average annual percent change is above 0.
• Stable when 95% confidence interval of average annual percent change includes 0.
• Falling when 95% confidence interval of average annual percent change is below 0.

AAPC (95% Confidence Interval) - The Average Annual Percent Change is the change in rate over time. These AAPCs are based upon APCs that were calculated by Joinpoint Regression Program

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

United States

• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.8 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.8 to -1.7.
• Rate : The death rate is 171.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 171.3 to 171.8 and 318,737 average annual deaths.

Alaska

• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.5 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.9 to -1.2.
• Rate : The death rate is 176.3 with a 95% confidence interval from 169.4 to 183.4 and 603 average annual deaths.

Anchorage Municipality

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is 0.3 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.4 to 4.5.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 180.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 169.3 to 192.7 and 223 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Matanuska-Susitna Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 4.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -0.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.7 to 0.6.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is higher compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 194.0 with a 95% confidence interval from 175.0 to 214.4 and 98 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Kenai Peninsula Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.9 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.1 to -0.6.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 157.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 139.1 to 177.9 and 63 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Fairbanks North Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.3 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.6 to -0.8.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is lower compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 146.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 128.3 to 166.2 and 60 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Juneau City and Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -0.8 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.5 to 1.1.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 195.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 163.0 to 232.7 and 31 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Ketchikan Gateway Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -2.6 with a 95% confidence interval from -5.8 to 0.9.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 172.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 134.0 to 219.2 and 15 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Bethel Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 4.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -0.4 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.9 to 2.9.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is higher compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 302.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 192.1 to 443.2 and 12 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.8

Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 4.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is 8.6 with a 95% confidence interval from -8.0 to 34.3.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is higher compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 266.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 196.6 to 356.0 and 11 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.6

Kodiak Island Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -1.1 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.4 to 2.7.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 158.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 110.3 to 226.3 and 10 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Nome Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -26.4 with a 95% confidence interval from -53.2 to 4.4.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 273.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 181.0 to 392.1 and 9 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.6

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -0.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.8 to 3.1.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 227.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 157.7 to 319.3 and 8 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.3

Sitka City and Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -2.1 with a 95% confidence interval from -5.2 to 1.3.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 154.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 107.5 to 215.7 and 8 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

North Slope Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -2.7 with a 95% confidence interval from -8.1 to 3.1.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 244.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 150.9 to 368.9 and 8 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.4

Southeast Fairbanks Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -1.2 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.9 to 2.0.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 186.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 119.0 to 276.5 and 7 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Valdez-Cordova Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -4.9 with a 95% confidence interval from -7.9 to -1.9.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is lower compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 116.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 73.5 to 175.4 and 7 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.7

Petersburg Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is 3.5 with a 95% confidence interval from -13.1 to 25.8.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 198.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 124.1 to 305.5 and 5 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.2

Wrangell Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is 0.6 with a 95% confidence interval from -10.5 to 12.3.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 230.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 143.7 to 367.8 and 5 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.3

Northwest Arctic Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -1.4 with a 95% confidence interval from -6.1 to 3.5.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 157.6 with a 95% confidence interval from 95.4 to 243.1 and 4 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Dillingham Census Area (3)

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -2.0 with a 95% confidence interval from -6.7 to 3.0.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 201.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 67.4 to 425.0 and 3 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.2

Hoonah-Angoon Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -4.1 with a 95% confidence interval from -15.0 to 8.0.
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 141.1 with a 95% confidence interval from 76.2 to 254.9 and 3 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.8

Kusilvak Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index cannot be determined.
• Recent Trend(2) : **
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 567.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 225.6 to 1,094.5 and 5 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 3.3

Aleutians East Borough (3)

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index cannot be determined.
• Recent Trend(2) : **
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : *
• Rate : *
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : *

Aleutians West Census Area (3)

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index cannot be determined.
• Recent Trend(2) : **
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : *
• Rate : *
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : *

Bristol Bay Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index cannot be determined.
• Recent Trend(2) : **
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : *
• Rate : *
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : *

Denali Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index cannot be determined.
• Recent Trend(2) : **
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : *
• Rate : *
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : *

Haines Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index cannot be determined.
• Recent Trend(2) : **
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : *
• Rate : *
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : *

Lake and Peninsula Borough (3)

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index cannot be determined.
• Recent Trend(2) : **
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : *
• Rate : *
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : *

Skagway Municipality

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index cannot be determined.
• Recent Trend(2) : **
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : *
• Rate : *
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : *

Yakutat City and Borough (3)

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index cannot be determined.
• Recent Trend(2) : **
• Borough or census area Death Rate Compared to US Rate : *
• Rate : *
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : *

Notes:
Created by statecancerprofiles.cancer.gov on 03/16/2026 9:00 pm.


* Data has been suppressed to ensure confidentiality and stability of rate and trend estimates.
** Data are too sparse to provide stable estimates of annual rates needed to calculate trend.
¹ Priority indices were created by ordering from rates that are rising and above the comparison rate to rates that are falling and below the comparison rate.
² Recent trend in death rates is usually an Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC) based on the APCs calculated by Joinpoint. Due to data availability issues, the time period and/or calculation method used in the calculation of the trends may differ for selected geographic areas.
³ Rate ratio is the borough or census area rate divided by the US rate. Previous versions of this table used one-year rates for states and five-year rates for counties. As of June 2018, only five-year rates are used.
Source: Death data provided by the National Vital Statistics System public use data file. Death rates calculated by the National Cancer Institute using SEER*Stat. Death rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population (20 age groups: <1, 1-4, 5-9, ... , 80-84, 85-89, 90+). The Healthy People 2030 goals are based on rates adjusted using different methods but the differences should be minimal. Population counts for denominators are based on Census populations as modified by NCI. The US Population Data File is used with mortality data.
Note: When the population size for a denominator is small, the rates may be unstable. A rate is unstable when a small change in the numerator (e.g., only one or two additional cases) has a dramatic effect on the calculated rate. Suppression is used to avoid misinterpretation when rates are unstable.

State Cancer Registries may provide more current or more local data. Data presented on the State Cancer Profiles Web Site may differ from statistics reported by the State Cancer Registries (for more information).
³ Due to data availability issues, the time period used in the calculation of the joinpoint regression model may differ for selected geographic areas.


Data for the following has been suppressed to ensure confidentiality and stability of rate and trend estimates:
Aleutians East Borough, Aleutians West Census Area, Bristol Bay Borough, Denali Borough, Haines Borough, Lake and Peninsula Borough, Skagway Municipality, Yakutat City and Borough

Trend for the following could not be reliably determined due to small number of deaths per year:
Kusilvak Census Area

Interpret Rankings provides insight into interpreting cancer statistics. When the population size for a denominator is small, the rates may be unstable. A rate is unstable when a small change in the numerator (e.g., only one or two additional cases) has a dramatic effect on the calculated rate.

Data for United States do not include Puerto Rico.