States With Highest Cancer Deaths: Where NC Ranks

NORTH CAROLINA — When it comes to states with the highest numbers of cancer deaths in the United States, North Carolina ranks in the top half, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The foundation determined which states had the most cancer-related fatalities by looking at underlying causes of death recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 1999 and 2018.

With 154.2 deaths per 100,000 people, North Carolina ranked No. 21 among states with the highest rate of cancer deaths.

Here’s a list of the top 10 states with the highest cancer death rates:

1. Kentucky: 181.6 cancer deaths per 100,000 people
2. Mississippi: 179.7
3. West Virginia: 179.5
4. Oklahoma: 178.1
5. Alabama: 170.4
6. Louisiana: 169.0
7. Arkansas: 168.8
8. Tennessee: 168
9. Indiana: 165.7
10. Missouri: 165.3

Check out the full rankings of cancer deaths by state on the Kaiser Family Foundation website.

Each year in the United States, more than 1.6 million people are diagnosed with cancer. Nearly 600,000 die from it each year, making it the second leading cause of death in America, according to the CDC.

Leading causes of cancer include smoking, getting too much UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds, being overweight and drinking too much alcohol.

Cancer mortality is highest among men, especially African American men, according to the U.S. Department of Health. One way to prevent cancer deaths is by screening.