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Since peak mortality rates in the early 1990s, new cancer research and therapeutics have saved millions. But much more work is still needed-while the odds of cancer survival have increased dramatically in the last two decades, it still takes many lives each year.
Cancer's impact is spread out, but as these statistics from America's Health Rankings show, certain states have better or worse cancer survival rates. The following are the 10 worst states, measured by the highest number of annual cancer deaths per 100,000 population. Utah was the best in the country, with a rate of 150.5, while the worst, Kentucky, had a rate of 233.6.
10. Missouri with 209.0 deaths per 100,000 population.
9. Indiana with 210.5 deaths per 100,000 population.
8. Alabama with 210.6 deaths per 100,000 population.
7. Tennessee with 216.6 deaths per 100,000 population.
6. Oklahoma with 216.9 deaths per 100,000 population.
5. Louisiana with 218.2 deaths per 100,000 population.
4. Arkansas with 219.5 deaths per 100,000 population.
3. Mississippi with 226.7 deaths per 100,000 population.
2. West Virginia with 226.9 deaths per 100,000 population.
1. Kentucky with 233.6 deaths per 100,000 population.
