Many cancers are preventable by reducing risk factors or getting appropriate vaccinations. Screening is effective in identifying some types of cancers in early, often highly treatable stages.¹  Although the number of cancer deaths has experienced a significant decline over the years, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in New Jersey and the United States. Among some subpopulations, it is the leading cause of death.

Four cancers - lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal - represent almost half of all new cancer diagnoses and about 42% of all cancer deaths in the state. Lung cancer is the leading cause of deaths due to cancer in New Jersey and in the nation as a whole. This is true for both males and females and for each racial/ethnic group. In the United States, 80%-90% of lung cancer deaths are due to smoking.²  Breast cancer is the second leading cause of deaths due to cancer among women in New Jersey. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and, in New Jersey, is the third leading cause of death due to cancer among men, following colorectal cancer.

2018-2023

Projects, Outreach, Assets, and Resources

• New Jersey Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan, 2021-2025
• New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection (NJCEED) Program
• New Jersey State Cancer Registry
• ScreenNJ
• Regional Chronic Disease Coalitions
• YouPlusTwo Campaign
• Choose Your Cover Campaign

Legislation

• P.L. 2023, c.008 expands access to colorectal cancer screening in New Jersey by requiring that health insurers cover the cost of screening procedures as recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force. This law removes financial barriers such as copayments, deductibles, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing requirements for colonoscopies and other colorectal cancer screening services.

Final Assessment

• Twelve of the seventeen Cancer targets were achieved by 2020.
  • Targets were met for all cancer incidence and mortality objectives, as well as colorectal cancer screening.
• The five-year cancer survival rate improved but the target was not achieved.
• The other three cancer screening objective rates and the sunburn rate worsened.

For more information, please refer to these resources:

• NJDOH Cancer Initiatives
• Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
• National Cancer Institute
• CDC Division of Cancer Prevention and Control
• Healthy People 2020
• Healthy People 2030

References: 

1. Cancer. Healthy People 2020. 10/08/20.
2. What Are the Risk Factors for Lung Cancer?  CDC. 9/22/20.