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Are Sun, Age Factors in Top Cancer Rate?

court house | 16 weeks 2 days ago | Comments 1

By Joe Hart

COURT HOUSE — Cape May County has the highest rate of cancer in New Jersey.

According to the state Department of Health and Senior Services Cancer Registry, this county led the state from 2001 through 2005 in the following invasive cancer rates: digestive system (106.4), urinary system (51.2), oral cavity (14.5), lung (85.7), skin (37.4), leukemia (18.5) and myeloma (8.3).

All rates are per 100,000 residents.

This county was also tops in the overall rate of cancer (580.4) and cancer in males (706.5). County females rank second in the state (489.1) behind only Ocean County (490.9).

Because of these statistics, cancer was the main topic of discussion at the July 24 meeting of the Cape May County Chronic Illness Coalition.

Coalition Chairman Dick Colosi provided a cancer fact sheet that said the death rate for cancer in this county was 252 for men and 182 for women compared to the statewide death rate of 237 for men and 172 for women.

The fact sheet figures were from cancer rates from 2000 through 2004.

“These figures are somewhat alarming,” said Colosi who works with the county Health Department.

He said the high cancer rates in the county could be due to the large percentage older residents living here and many point to the area’s devotion to sun worshiping as a cause for the skin cancer rates.

This county ranked fifth in the state from 2001 through 2005 in breast cancer rates (76.5), second in colorectal cancer (80.4) and 10th in prostate cancer (180.5).

In an effort to fight the disease, the county Health Department offers free screenings, education, outreach and case management through the New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection Program (NJCEED).

The program is available for age-qualified men and women who are uninsured or underinsured. Funding is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the state Department of Health and Senior Services.

County CEED Coordinator Carol Porter said 36 men and over 400 women were screened through the program over the 2007-08 grant year, which ended on June 30.

Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com

Print | Email Updated 16 weeks 2 days ago
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Sun, 08/24/2008 - 11:46am

While age is certainly a risk factor for cancer, we additionally should consider the high rate of obesity, smoking, drug and alcohol abuse in this county. Many towns in this county have a bar or liquor store on every corner, and both prescription and street drug abuse is out of control in many areas of the county (Rio Grande, Villas). Perhaps another thing to consider is our water quality. Sun surely isn't the primary cause-if that were true, our sunbelt states would be have far more cancer than us and this is not the case. They have plenty of older folks there too. Perhaps it's time to re-examine our laws and ask why a county or city would allow so many liquor licenses, which only deteriorate the community. We all know that drinking goes hand-in-hand with smoking and drug abuse is seen in those circles also. Unfortunately, it is all about the money. A local and very concerned pharmacist-who sees it all!!

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