Cancer is a major public health concern in the United States, affecting millions of people every year. According to the CDC, Florida had an age-adjusted cancer incidence rate of 452.4 per 100,000 population in 2020, slightly higher than the national average of 442.3. However, cancer rates vary widely across the state, depending on factors such as demographics, lifestyle, environment, and access to health care. In this article, we will look at the seven counties with the highest cancer rates in Florida, based on the most recent data available.
7. Alachua County
Alachua County, located in north-central Florida, is home to the University of Florida and the city of Gainesville. The county had an age-adjusted cancer incidence rate of 470 per 100,000 population in 2020, ranking seventh among all counties in the state. The most common types of cancer in Alachua County were breast, lung and bronchus, and prostate, accounting for 28.2%, 11.6%, and 10.4% of all cases, respectively.
6. Broward County
Broward County, located in southeast Florida, is the second-most populous county in the state and the 17th-most populous in the nation. The county had an age-adjusted cancer incidence rate of 471.9 per 100,000 population in 2020, ranking sixth among all counties in the state. The most common types of cancer in Broward County were breast, lung and bronchus, and prostate, accounting for 25.6%, 12%, and 10.8% of all cases, respectively.
5. Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County, located in southeast Florida, is the most populous county in the state and the seventh-most populous in the nation. The county had an age-adjusted cancer incidence rate of 472.8 per 100,000 population in 2020, ranking fifth among all counties in the state. The most common types of cancer in Miami-Dade County were breast, prostate, and lung and bronchus, accounting for 24.9%, 13.5%, and 9.8% of all cases, respectively.
4. Monroe County
Monroe County, located in southwest Florida, is the southernmost county in the continental United States, comprising the Florida Keys and part of the Everglades. The county had an age-adjusted cancer incidence rate of 486.8 per 100,000 population in 2020, ranking fourth among all counties in the state. The most common types of cancer in Monroe County were lung and bronchus, melanoma of the skin, and breast, accounting for 19.4%, 13.1%, and 12.7% of all cases, respectively.
3. Pinellas County
Pinellas County, located in west-central Florida, is the sixth-most populous county in the state and the 31st-most populous in the nation. The county had an age-adjusted cancer incidence rate of 487.1 per 100,000 population in 2020, ranking third among all counties in the state. The most common types of cancer in Pinellas County were lung and bronchus, breast, and prostate, accounting for 15.8%, 13.9%, and 10.7% of all cases, respectively.
2. Union County
Union County, located in north-central Florida, is the smallest county in the state by area and the third-smallest by population. The county had an age-adjusted cancer incidence rate of 506.9 per 100,000 population in 2020, ranking second among all counties in the state. The most common types of cancer in Union County were lung and bronchus, prostate, and colon and rectum, accounting for 23.9%, 16.9%, and 9.5% of all cases, respectively.
1. Franklin County
Franklin County, located in northwest Florida, is a rural county along the Gulf of Mexico. The county had an age-adjusted cancer incidence rate of 1103.1 per 100,000 population in 2020, ranking first among all counties in the state and more than twice the state average. The most common types of cancer in Franklin County were lung and bronchus, prostate, and colon and rectum, accounting for 32.4%, 15.9%, and 10.8% of all cases, respectively.
Conclusion
Cancer is a complex and multifaceted disease that affects different populations in different ways. The counties with the highest cancer rates in Florida reflect a diversity of geographic, demographic, and socioeconomic factors that influence the risk and burden of cancer. Understanding these factors can help inform prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship strategies for reducing the impact of cancer in Florida and beyond.