Cancer incidence and mortality in urban versus rural areas of Texas, 1980 through 1985.

Cancer incidence and mortality rates were estimated among three ethnic groups in Texas. Ratios confirmed higher rates of total cancers (all cancer types combined) and of many individual sites in urban versus rural areas for all males and for Anglo females. Urban African-American females had elevated cancer mortality, but incidence did not show significant urban-rural differences. Hispanic females did not exhibit significant urban-rural differences in either incidence or mortality. Cancers of the digestive system and smoking-related cancers follow the general pattern of higher incidence and mortality rates in urban areas, consistent with studies published previously. Despite higher rates of cancer mortality, urban areas have a larger proportion of total cancer cases diagnosed at a premalignant stage. Various hypotheses may be offered to explore the findings of urban-rural differences in cancer incidence and mortality.