January 31, 2007
Crisis in Jackson County
Cancer Mortality Rates
Public Records for Cancer Mortality rates are readily available from many sources
including:
 Mississippi Dept. of Health
 Center for Disease Control
 American Cancer Society
 University of Miss School of Medicine- Bio Records
 Environmental Protection Agency
 Other sources via the Internet
Since 1992, Mississippi has declined to the top Ten (10) of the 50 United States with the
highest Cancer Incidents and Cancer Death Rates per capta (Per 100,000 Population) in
the nation. The year 2005 reported Mississippi with a Cancer Mortality Rate of 220
persons per 100,000. By Comparison the State of Alaska ran 10 persons per 100,000 and
the U.S. as a whole ran 190. It is interesting to note that depending upon the source and
methodology these numbers vary but for a layman appear to be fairly uniform.
During 2005, the U.S. reported 14,970 Malignant Neo Plasm cases, while Mississippi
reported 6,220. By comparison Mississippi’s Cancer Death rate per 100,000 Population
Ran:
2005 Est.
2004
1990
213.3
215.2
192.4
while the U.S. rate ran 205.4 per 100,000 Population.
A side-by-side comparison for Total Deaths versus Cancer Mortality Rates for the State
of Mississippi and Jackson County for the periods 1990-2004 reveals the following:
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
MISSISSIPPI
Total
Cancer Cancer
Deaths Deaths Death Rate
22,338
21,992
22,753
22,873
22,972
23,220
22,684
28,765
28,333
27,748
5,725
5,732
5,815
5,944
6,131
6,060
6,050
5,933
5,924
5,964
21.3%*
21.6%*
21.2%*
216.0
221.4
213.4
210.7
208.6
205.6
205.4
JACKSON COUNTY
Total Cancer Cancer
Deaths Deaths Death Rate
1,038
924
1,003
1,112
1,013
1,183
1,121
1,193
1,195
1,164
256
235
238
260
282
285
244
263
275
258
192
176.5
178.8
198.6
211.8
216.9
185.7
197.4
205.3
228.2
Year
2005
MISSISSIPPI
JACKSON COUNTY
Total
Cancer Cancer
Total
Cancer Cancer
Deaths Deaths Death Rate Deaths
Deaths Death Rate
29,047
6,018
205.4
1,228
225
165.5
Totals
249,609
59,247 220
12,171
2,821
317
What do these historical numbers suggest? First on a national basis, Mississippi has
experienced an increase in the Incidents of Cancer and the Cancer deaths per 100,000
Population compared to the United States and is now in the top ten (10%) percent of all
the States with the highest cancer mortality rate per 100,000 population. Collectively, the
various sources indicate that Jackson County’s Cancer Mortality Rate is about 147%
higher than Mississippi as a whole.
If we take the MS Dept. of Health’s numbers, we find the following has occurred over the
past ten years:
Year
MISSISSIPPI
Total
Cancer Cancer
Deaths Deaths Death Rate
Total
249,609 59,247
220*
*Composite from multiple sources
** Per 100,000 Population
JACKSON COUNTY
Total
Cancer Cancer
Deaths
Deaths Death Rate
12,171
2,821
317**
The MS Dept. of Health, and the Univ. Of MS Medical School Cancer Registry report the
Cancer Death Rates and the Incidents of Cancer. Note that the Incidents of Cancer are
much more telling, as many terminal cancer patients may have a “registered death” as
caused by some other illness such as a heart attack, stroke, pneumonia, etc.
A review of these facts reveal is presented comparing Mississippi with Jackson County,
Hinds County and Harrison County. One important point to note is the difference is
actual population:
Population
Per Cent of Total
Mississippi
2,921,088*
Hinds County
249,345…. 8.53% of state population
Harrison County
193,810…. 6.63% of state population
Jackson County
135,940….. 4.65% of state population
Est. 2005 Year End U.S. Census Bureau
Thus far we have found that Jackson County over the ten year period covering
1995 –2004 reported 10,943 deaths from all sources. Of these deaths those registered as
deaths by cancer totaled 2,596.
To put this into perspective:
Total Deaths
3 deaths per day - all sources
21 deaths per week- all sources
92 deaths per month- all sources
Reported Cancer Deaths
1 cancer death every 1.5 days
5 cancer deaths per week
21.4 deaths per month
Simply put 24% (1 out of 4) of all reported Jackson County deaths are from cancer. This
does not include reported deaths of other causes for persons ill with cancer.
Cancer Incident Rates provide a more viable look into the Cancer issues as Cancer
remissions from improved treatment methodology and medicines impact the Cancer
Death Rates which is a blessing compared to previous rates and treatment.
Mississippi’s Cancer Incident Rate leads the United States. The State rate is Jackson
County’s Cancer Incident Rates range between 389 – 436 per 100,000 Population.
While the States unadjusted average is 402 based upon 2003 data.
As recently as February 1, 2007 yet another scientific study by the Environmental
Protection Agency resulted in the tightening of the permitted amount of fine particulates
in air discharges. The EPA announced a concentration of 15 millionths of a gram for
every cubic meter or air. The study was performed on 65,893 women with an average
exposure of 13 units, with two-thirds of the subjects falling under the national standard.
But every increase of 10 units, starting with zero (0), lifted the risk of fatal cardiovascular disease by twenty four (24%) percent. This is several times higher than in a
study By the American Cancer Society. Donald Dockery, pollution specialist at the
Harvard School of Public Health advised that this study was “one more piece of evidence
adding to the body of evidence.” Writing in the New Jersey Journal of Medicine.
Particulates contribute to lung and heart disease. (Note: my mother, Inez H. Hardy, died
of Interstertial Lung Disease. The EPA study focused on post menopausal women 50-79
years of age.
For these women, the odds of a cardio-vascular problems including arterial blockage,
coronary disease, stroke and heart attacks were 24% more likely to have these problems
with every 10-unit rise in particulates. The particulates are so tiny that 30 particles would
be the diameter of a human hair. The particulates are part of the dust and soot that comes
from chemicals, burning coal, fuel, power plants, and factory discharges…….
The reported air releases into Jackson County by industries over the ten
year period from 1992-2002 totaled 43,997,423 pounds…..the EPA
study focused on particulates that are 15 millionths of a gram in weight.