Most Cancer Rates are Lower in Mahoning County, Report Finds

Cancer has been a reportable disease in Ohio since 1991, when the Ohio legislature created the Ohio Cancer Incidence Surveillance System (OCISS). All physicians and hospitals are required to report each new case of cancer diagnosed in an Ohio resident.

A total of 1,357 new cases of cancer were reported to OCISS from Mahoning County in 1992. In 1992, the overall rate of cancer in Mahoning County (352.4 cases per 100,000 persons) was significantly lower compared to all of Ohio (380.4 per 100,000). Prostate, lung and bronchus cancer cases in Mahoning County were also statistically lower than the Ohio rate. Only stomach cancer rates were significantly higher in Mahoning County than Ohio, although stomach cancer accounted for only 3% of cancer cases in 1992.