Selected Health Indicators in North Dakota
Breast & Cervical Cancer

Breast Cancer

Year 2000 Goal:
Reduce the rate of death from breast cancer to no more than 25.2 per 100,000 women.

U.S. Deaths 1990-1992:
28.9 per 100,000 women

North Dakota Deaths 1990-1994:
26.1 per 100,000 women

Years of potential life lost:
On average, North Dakotans who die from breast cancer before the age of 65 lose 12 years of potential life. This means that the average age at death is 53 years for a woman dying from breast cancer before the age of 65.

Year 2000 Goal:
Increase the percentage of women age 50 and older who have had a clinical breast exam and mammogram within the past one to two years to at least 60 percent.

North Dakota 1994:
63 percent



TREND - Breast Cancer Death Rate
Age adjusted death rate per 100,000 North Dakota women

Early detection of breast cancer (through regular breast self exams, clinical breast exams, and mammograms) increases the chances for long-term survival.

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer:

Women over age 50
(with age risk increases)

Family history of breast cancer
(Mother, sister, maternal aunt, and maternal grandmother)

Personal history of breast cancer

Never giving birth or giving birth after age 30

Cervical Cancer

Year 2000 Goal:
Reduce deaths from cervical cancer to no more than 1.5 per 100,000 women.

U.S. Deaths 1990-1992:
3.2 per 100,000 women

North Dakota Deaths 1990-1994:
2.6 per 100,000 women

Years of potential life lost:
On average, North Dakotans who die from cervical cancer before the age of 65 lose 19 years of potential life. This means that the average age at death is 46 years for a woman dying from cervical cancer before the age of 65.

Year 2000 Goal:
Increase the percentage of women age 18 and older who have had a Pap test within the past one to three years to at least 85 percent.

North Dakota 1994:
83 percent



TREND - Cervical Cancer Death Rate
Age adjusted death rate per 100,000 North Dakota women

An average of 10 women die from cervical cancer every year in North Dakota. These deaths are almost always preventable with diagnosis and treatment of precancerous lesions.

Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer:

Early age at first intercourse

Multiple sex partners

Smoking

Infection with certain types of human papillomavirus
(a virus that causes genital warts)

Go Home | Next | Return to Index


Last Updated: Thursday, May 23, 1996, 11:00:08 AM
Allen Johnson - ND Health Dept. DP Coordinator - ajohnson@state.nd.us