Cancer Incidence and Mortality Among South Dakotans, 2017

This report summarizes the burden of cancer in South Dakota and includes cancer incidence and mortality data. The data will enable the many organizations working with cancer prevention and control to identify public health problems, target goals for cancer control, and to inform citizens and health care professionals about risks, early detection, and treatment. For information on the cancer burden within a specific county, the South Dakota Cancer Incidence & Mortality tool provided by the SD Cancer Registry allows for quick cancer data comparisons by county.

An Annual Report on Cancer Incidence and Mortality Among South Dakotans, 2017

Incidence 2017

  • South Dakota had 4,740 reportable invasive cases of cancer diagnosed, which excludes the less life-threatening cancers such as in situ cancers (except in situ bladder cases) and the common skin cancers.
  • Each day 13 cases of cancer were diagnosed in residents of South Dakota; this includes only cases of invasive cancer and in situ bladder.
  • The five most diagnosed cancer sites (prostate, female breast, lung, colorectal, melanoma) accounted for 55% of all cancer cases.
  • Prostate cancer was the most common reportable malignancy with 649 cases, 13.7% of all cases and 26.3% of cases for men.
  • Female breast cancer was the second most common reportable cancer with 645 cases among women, accounting for 13.6% of all cases and 28.3% of cases for women.
  • Lung cancer was the third most common reportable malignancy with 602 cases, 12.7% of all cases.
  • Colon and rectal cancers were the fourth most common malignancy with 420 cases, 8.9% of all cases.
  • Melanoma cancers were the fifth most common malignancy with 278 cases, 5.9% of all reported cases.
  • 52% of all new cancers were diagnosed in males and 48% were in females.
  • Males had an age-adjusted incidence rate of 479.8 per 100,000, which was higher than females who had an age-adjusted rate of 430.2 per 100,000.
  • Whites accounted for 93.6% of cancer cases with 4,435 cases whereas American Indians were 5.1% with 240 cases.
  • The American Indian age-adjusted incidence rate was 482.9, which is higher than the age-adjusted rate among whites of 433.7.
  • The South Dakota age-adjusted incidence rate for 2017 was 449.6, significantly higher than the US SEER 2017 age-adjusted incidence rate of 434.0 per 100,000 persons.

Mortality 2017

  • Overall, cancer was the leading cause of death in South Dakota.
  • In 2017, 1,751 South Dakotans died from cancer, accounting for one in every four deaths in South Dakota.
  • Each day over four South Dakotans died from cancer.
  • The five cancer sites (lung, colorectal, pancreas, female breast, prostate) caused half of all cancer deaths.
  • Lung and bronchus cancers were the leading cause of cancer deaths at 421 deaths or 24.0% of all cancer deaths. Lung and bronchus cancers caused one in four deaths due to cancer.
  • Colorectal cancer was the second leading cause of cancer deaths with 158 deaths, 9.0% of all cancer deaths.
  • Pancreatic cancer was the third leading cause of death with 124 deaths, 7.1% of all cancer deaths.
  • Female breast cancer was the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths with 102 deaths, 5.8% of all cancer deaths and 12.1% of all female cancer deaths.
  • Prostate cancer was the fifth leading cause of death with 71 deaths, 4.1% of all cancer deaths and 7.8% of all male cancer deaths.
  • Over half, 52% of all cancer deaths were males and 48% were females.
  • Males had an age-adjusted death rate of 184.9 per 100,000 males, 29.4% higher than females with an age-adjusted rate of 142.9 deaths per 100,000 females.
  • Whites accounted for 92.6% of deaths with 1,622 deaths, whereas American Indians were 6.2% with 109 deaths.
  • The American Indian age-adjusted death rate was 241.5 which is 53.2% higher than the rate among whites at the age-adjusted death rate of 157.6.
  • South Dakota’s age-adjusted death rate for 2017 was 160.5, no significant difference than the US SEER 2017 rate of 152.6.

Trends

  • Melanoma incidence cases have increased significantly since 2009.
  • For the last decade, female breast cancer mortality rates have remained steady.

Updated April 2020