Cancer Incidence in Urban and Rural Areas of New York State

Abstract

The New York State age-adjusted incidence rates for several cancer sites are compared with rates reported from Connecticut and Iowa. Despite some differences there is substantial agreement among the three sources on the approximate magnitude of the incidence rates, for several sites, in the urban and rural areas and in the urban-rural ratios of rates. Some of the larger urban-rural ratios were noted for the respiratory system, esophagus (males), and intestine and rectum (males). Within New York State, the urban-rural differences in incidence for specific sites persisted when data for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties were examined separately.