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Incidence of Cancer of the Oral Cavity and Pharynx by County, New Mexico, 2017-2021

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Incidence of Cancer of the Oral Cavity and Pharynx by County, New Mexico, 2017-2021

  • #This count or rate is statistically unstable (RSE >0.30), and may fluctuate widely across time periods due to random variation (chance). Please use caution in interpreting this value, or combine years, areas, or age groups to increase the population size.
  • ##The estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and does not meet standards for reliability. A count or rate such as this should not be used to inform decisions. Try combining years, areas, or age groups to increase the population size.

Why Is This Important?

Oral and pharyngeal cancers form in tissues of the lips, mouth, tongue, salivary glands, tonsils, and pharynx. Each year, oral and pharyngeal cancers account for nearly 3% of all new cancer cases and 1.8% of all cancer deaths in the U.S, which represents 54,000 cases and 11,230 deaths. The five-year survival rate is 68%. Tobacco and alcohol use are among the biggest risk factors for developing oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers.

Definition

Cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx incidence refers to the number of persons newly diagnosed with cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx during a specified time period. Measures include: 1) age-adjusted cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx incidence rates; and 2) age-adjusted incidence rates by race/ethnicity.

Data Notes

  • Rates have been age-adjusted using the direct method and the 2000 U.S. standard population.
  • Rates have been age-adjusted using the direct method and the 2000 U.S. standard population.

Data Sources

How the Measure is Calculated

  • Numerator:

    The number of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx cases newly diagnosed in New Mexico residents within a specified time period.
  • Denominator:

    The estimated population of New Mexico residents within a specified time period.

Data Issues

  • New Mexico Population Estimates

    All population estimates apply to July 1 of the selected year. These estimates are considered the most accurate estimates for the state of New Mexico and should match those found on the University of New Mexico Geospatial and Population Studies website. Estimates include decimal fractions. Census tract population estimates were summed to produce County and Small Area population estimates. Population estimate totals may vary due to rounding. Population estimates for previous years are occasionally revised as new information becomes available. When publishing trend data, always be sure that your rates for earlier years match current rates on NM-IBIS that have been calculated with the most up-to-date population estimates.

  • New Mexico Tumor Registry

    In agreement with the New Mexico Tumor Registry, to ensure confidentiality the count of cancer cases is suppressed for any given county if the count is between one and four and the population is less than 1,000. NOTE: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health services, leading to delays and reductions in cancer screening, diagnosis, and reporting to some central cancer registries. This may have contributed to an observed decline in 2020 incidence for most cancer sites.

Health Topic Pages Related to: Cancer Incidence - Oral Cavity and Pharynx

Indicator Data Last Updated On 01/14/2024, Published on 07/31/2024
Environmental Health Epidemiology Bureau, Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, Epidemiology and Response Division, New Mexico Department of Health, 1190 S. Saint Francis Drive, Suite 1300, Santa Fe, NM 87505, Srikanth Paladugu, Bureau Chief, Srikanth.Paladugu@doh.nm.gov, or Chelsea Langer, Environmental Epidemiologist Supervisor, Chelsea.Langer@doh.nm.gov