MALIGNANT NEOPLASMS

Malignant neoplasms were the second leading cause of death in 1996, accounting for 18,124 deaths (Table M4). In 1996, 72.7 percent of cancer deaths occurred in persons 65 years of age and over. Another 23.0 percent of the cancer deaths were in persons 45 through 64 years of age. Malignant neoplasms continue to be the leading cause of death in this latter age group (Chart M2). Cancer death rates were lower in 1996 than in 1987 in every age group except five through 14 year olds and persons 65 and over. Although the age-adjusted total cancer death rate declined slightly over the past ten years, the number of deaths per year increased by 998. Almost all of the increase was attributable to persons aged 65 and over. In addition to an increase in the number of deaths, the death rates in the 65 through 84 and 85 and over age groups were each higher than a decade earlier.

Age-adjusted cancer death rates by site differ in magnitude and trend over time (Table M5). Cancer of the lung and bronchus remained the most frequent type of fatal cancer in 1996, responsible for 4,817 deaths and an age-adjusted rate of 36.7 per 100,000 standard population. The second highest age-adjusted death rate by site was from female breast cancer. In 1996, 1,551 New Jersey women died of breast cancer, for an age-adjusted rate of 21.9 per 100,000 standard population. Cancer of the digestive organs, excluding the colon and rectum, was responsible for 2,340 deaths, while another 2,194 deaths were attributed to cancer of the colon and rectum. Together, cancer of the digestive system accounted for an age-adjusted rate of 31.0 deaths per 100,000 standard population. Cancer of the prostate was the underlying cause of death in 1,132 deaths of New Jersey men in 1996 with an age-adjusted rate of 15.8 deaths per 100,000 standard population.