OVERVIEW

North Carolina ranks 21st in cancer deaths nationwide, with approximately 20,000 North Carolinians dying of cancer each year. There are complex sets of factors that contribute to this statistic. For instance, North Carolina ranks 38th in HPV vaccination, 38th in smoking, and 44th in avoiding care due to cost. The burden of cancer is also distributed unequally across the State, with certain demographic groups more likely to develop and die from cancer than others.

The DCI catchment area covers a range of rural and urban counties, and represents diverse communities across the race/ethnic and socio-economic spectrum. At DCI, ongoing research and analyses aim to identify communities experiencing disproportionate burden of cancer in order to inform targeted dissemination and implementation strategies (Darker counties: greater number of DCI patients; larger circles: higher poverty)

At DCI, the NCCN Distress Thermometer survey is administered at every visit to patients to help identify patient needs. This information is used to tailor support and navigation services to meet various patient needs, including practical (e.g., transportation, food insecurity, housing, childcare), emotional (e.g., fear, nervousness, worry), and physical problems (e.g., fatigue, pain, nausea)

Black-White Disparity for Age Adjusted Cancer Incidence (AAIR) and Mortality (AAMR) Rates in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, 2015-2019

Trends in age-adjusted cancer incidence (AAIR) and mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 population in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia by the top five cancers in that state and Black & White patients. 

Data source : North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia Cancer Registry from 2015-2019