State Cancer Profiles

Interpretation of Rate/Trend Comparison by Cancer Data

Death Rate/Trend Comparison by Cancer, 2016-2020

Alaska Boroughs and Census Areas versus United States

All Cancer Sites

All Races, Male

Sorted by priority index

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 -2.2 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.5 to -2.0.
• Rate : The death rate is 177.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 177.2 to 177.8 and 315,770 average annual deaths.

Alaska

• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.6 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.9 to -1.4.
• Rate : The death rate is 170.3 with a 95% confidence interval from 163.3 to 177.4 and 549 average annual deaths.

Bethel Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 4.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is 0.5 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.4 to 2.3.
• 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 361.4 with a 95% confidence interval from 245.8 to 503.0 and 14 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 2.0

Nome Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 4.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is 0.9 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.0 to 2.7.
• 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 302.9 with a 95% confidence interval from 204.5 to 426.3 and 9 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.7

Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 4.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is 1.4 with a 95% confidence interval from -0.3 to 3.2.
• 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 269.1 with a 95% confidence interval from 192.0 to 368.1 and 9 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.5

Dillingham Census Area (3)

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is 0.1 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.0 to 3.2.
• 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 220.3 with a 95% confidence interval from 136.9 to 334.8 and 5 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.2

Ketchikan Gateway 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 -3.1 to 0.3.
• 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 181.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 140.2 to 232.0 and 14 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

North Slope Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -0.9 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.7 to 2.1.
• 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 222.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 125.5 to 354.1 and 6 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.3

Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is 0.4 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.4 to 3.3.
• 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 188.0 with a 95% confidence interval from 132.6 to 260.9 and 8 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Southeast Fairbanks 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 -2.7 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 187.1 with a 95% confidence interval from 124.4 to 269.2 and 7 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 6.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is stable because the trend is -1.0 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.1 to 0.2.
• 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 167.1 with a 95% confidence interval from 116.9 to 235.6 and 8 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Anchorage Municipality

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.8 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.3 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 171.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 159.8 to 183.1 and 200 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Juneau City and Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.5 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.4 to -0.5.
• 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 157.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 126.5 to 193.5 and 22 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Kenai Peninsula Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.2 with a 95% confidence interval from -2.9 to -1.5.
• 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 170.5 with a 95% confidence interval from 150.2 to 192.8 and 61 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.0

Kodiak Island Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.5 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.3 to -0.8.
• 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 143.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 96.5 to 204.5 and 8 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.8

Matanuska-Susitna Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -1.2 with a 95% confidence interval from -1.8 to -0.5.
• 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 192.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 173.4 to 213.5 and 89 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.1

Northwest Arctic Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.6 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.7 to -0.4.
• 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 162.8 with a 95% confidence interval from 96.4 to 254.2 and 4 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.9

Valdez-Cordova Census Area

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 8.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.4 with a 95% confidence interval from -4.4 to -0.3.
• 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 145.0 with a 95% confidence interval from 96.2 to 209.6 and 8 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.8

Fairbanks North Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -6.3 with a 95% confidence interval from -8.7 to -3.8.
• 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 135.0 with a 95% confidence interval from 117.4 to 154.3 and 53 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.8

Sitka City and Borough

• Priority Index(1) : The priority index is 9.
• Recent Trend(2) : The trend is falling because the trend is -2.0 with a 95% confidence interval from -3.8 to -0.1.
• 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 113.0 with a 95% confidence interval from 72.3 to 168.5 and 5 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.6

Kusilvak/Wade Hampton 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 269.7 with a 95% confidence interval from 164.4 to 411.5 and 5 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 1.5

Skagway-Hoonah-Angoon 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 : This death rate is similar compared to the US rate
• Rate : The death rate is 131.2 with a 95% confidence interval from 76.5 to 219.9 and 4 average annual deaths.
• Rate Ratio(3) Borough or census area to US : The rate ratio is 0.7

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 : *

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 04/26/2024 5:57 am.

Alaska Census Area Name Change: please note that Wade Hampton Census Area, AK (FIPS code=02270) was renamed effective July 1, 2015, and the new name is Kusilvak Census Area (FIPS Code=02158). This website will use Kusilvak/Wade Hampton until the next incidence/mortality data release.


* 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 Version 4.8.0.0. 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 (19 age groups: <1, 1-4, 5-9, ... , 80-84, 85+). The Healthy People 2020 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, Yakutat City and Borough

Trend for the following could not be reliably determined due to small number of deaths per year:
Kusilvak/Wade Hampton Census Area, Skagway-Hoonah-Angoon 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 does not include Puerto Rico.