Cancer Health

Age-adjusted mortality for malignant neoplasms (cancer)

In 2004, the number of deaths due to cancer in Bexar County was 179 deaths per 100,000 people. Historically, rates in Bexar County are similar to the Statewide and the Harris County rates. Data from 1992 to 2004 show a decline in rates of approximately 30 deaths per 100,000 over the 12-year period.

The cancer mortality rate in Bexar County is highest in the West and East sectors. In the West sector, the mortality rate is 198 deaths per 100,000 people; this is closely followed by the East sector with 196 deaths. Not far behind are the Northeast and South sectors with 188 and 183 cancer deaths per 100,000. The Northwest and North Central Sectors have the lowest rates in the County.

Years of potential life lost (YPLL) due to malignant neoplasms (cancer)

There were 710 residents of Bexar County who experienced premature death due to cancer in 2004. The consequence was the loss of 8,570 years of life or an average of 12 years for each person younger than 65 who died. This results in a rate of 639 years of potential life lost per 100,000. This is noticeably down from 710 years of life lost since 1992. Throughout the state and Harris County there is a steady, gradual decline in the YPLL rate in since 1992.

The amount of years of potential life lost to malignant neoplasms varies across the sectors of Bexar County. Rates range from 534 YPLL/100,000 in the North Central sector to 760 YPLL/100,000 in the Northeast sector. The highest rates are in the Northeast, the East, and the South, with rates that are on average approximately 100 YPLL/100,000 higher than the sectors with the lowest rates. It could be that environmental determinants of health play a role in the distribution of YPLL due to cancer. Further investigation related to this question could provide a clarification of whether there is an association between environmental determinants and cancer rates in various areas in the county.