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Wisconsin Value:
Percentage of women ages 18-44 who reported being told by a health professional that they had any type of cancer (excluding skin cancer)
Wisconsin Rank:
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Percentage of women ages 18-44 who reported being told by a health professional that they had any type of cancer (excluding skin cancer)
US Value: 2.2%
Top State(s): Hawaii: 1.4%
Bottom State(s): Arkansas: 4.2%
Definition: Percentage of women ages 18-44 who reported being told by a health professional that they had any type of cancer (excluding skin cancer)
Data Source and Years(s): CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2020-2021
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. The most common cancer among women is breast cancer, accounting for 31% of new cases. The deadliest cancer among women is lung cancer, which accounts for 21% of cancer deaths among women. The biggest risk factor for cancer is advancing age. Other cancer risks include tobacco use, environmental carcinogens, genetic factors and viral and bacterial infections.
In 2020, the national cost of cancer care was projected to be $208.9 billion. Assuming the number of new diagnoses and the rate of survival remain constant, those costs are expected to increase 34% by 2030.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant disruption to health services, including cancer screening and preventive care visits. The American Cancer Society’s 2023 statistical report notes that their cancer diagnosis and death estimates do not account for the impact of COVID-19, the full consequences of which will only be revealed in the years to come.
According to America’s Health Rankings data, the prevalence of cancer is higher among:
A 2022 study identified a rising trend in aggressive uterine and breast cancer diagnoses, disproportionately affecting Black women. The report highlights that while Black women and white women have similar incidence rates of uterine cancer, death rates are twice as high for Black women. Black women also experience higher rates of aggressive breast cancer subtypes, such as estrogen-receptor–negative or triple-negative, than the general population.
While there is no universal cure, there are ways for providers and individuals to reduce the risk of certain cancers. Some evidence-based approaches include:
Information on specific screening, counseling and prevention recommendations for cancer are available from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Healthy People 2030 has multiple objectives related to cancer, including:
American Cancer Society. 2023. “Cancer Facts & Figures 2023.” American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2023/2023-cancer-facts-and-figures.pdf.
Cronin, Kathleen A., Susan Scott, Albert U. Firth, Hyuna Sung, S. Jane Henley, Recinda L. Sherman, Rebecca L. Siegel, et al. 2022. “Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, Part 1: National Cancer Statistics.” Cancer 128 (24): 4251–84. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.34479.
Mariotto, Angela B., Lindsey Enewold, Jingxuan Zhao, Christopher A. Zeruto, and K. Robin Yabroff. 2020. “Medical Care Costs Associated with Cancer Survivorship in the United States.” Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 29 (7): 1304–12. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-19-1534.
National Cancer Institute. 2023. “Financial Burden of Cancer Care | Cancer Trends Progress Report.” https://progressreport.cancer.gov/after/economic_burden#field_additional_information.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.