Hundreds of thousands of Americans die every year from some form of cancer and millions more have survived thanks to early diagnosis and treatment. This group of diseases linked to uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells is the second biggest killer in the U.S. after heart disease.
According to the American Cancer Society, excluding certain types of skin cancer, at least 42% of newly diagnosed cancers in the United States are potentially avoidable. Nearly one in five cancers is caused by smoking and almost as many cases are linked to a combination of excess body weight, poor nutrition, lack of adequate exercise, and alcohol consumption.
Because lifestyle choices play such a significant role, the rates of cancer vary from one population to the next. Access to affordable preventative health care is another factor: communities with less access to regular doctor’s checkups are more likely to contract cancer that goes undiagnosed until it’s too late.
In the United States, the six most common types of cancer are: breast, lung, colon, prostate, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and leukemia. (These are the most common cancers in America and their survival rates.)
There is considerable variation in the incidence of various types of cancer from one state to another. To identify the estimated number of new cases diagnosed in every state in 2022, 24/7 Tempo reviewed a report from the American Cancer Society’s “Cancer Facts and Figures 2023,” released in January 2023.
Delaware leads the nation in breast and prostate cancer while West Virginians are most likely to suffer from cancers of the colon and lung. Florida leads the nation in leukemia and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. (These are the states where deaths from cancer are going up.)
Though sun-splashed Utah has the nation’s highest rate of skin cancer, it has a low overall cancer rate that’s attributed in part to the state’s large population of teetotaling and non-smoking Mormons. The Beehive State has the nation’s lowest rate for four of the six main types of cancer, the second-lowest rate for leukemia, and the seventh-lowest rate for prostate cancer.
Click here to see the number of new cancer cases in every state
California, the country’s largest state by population, has the second lowest rate for lung cancer and the third-lowest rates for prostate cancer and leukemia. Texas, the country’s second most populous state, has the nation’s lowest rate of prostate cancer and is among the five states with the lowest rates for breast cancer, lung cancer, and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
In some states, one or two types of cancer are statistical outliers. For example, Maine ranks among the five states with the highest rates for breast cancer, lung cancer, leukemia, and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but it ranks 39th for colon cancer and 22nd for prostate cancer. Alaska has among the nation’s lowest rates for five of these cancers, but it ranks 17th for colon cancer. New Hampshire is among the ten states with the highest rates of these cancers except for colon cancer, for which it ranks 25th.
Source: CRobertson / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
50. Utah
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 428 per 100K people (total: 13,840)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (77 per 100K or a total of 2,500)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (63 per 100K or a total of 2,030)
> Third most common cancer: Colon & rectum (29 per 100K or a total of 940)
> Population: 3,231,370
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Source: lippyjr / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
49. Alaska
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 461 per 100K people (total: 3,390)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (71 per 100K or a total of 520)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (64 per 100K or a total of 470)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (61 per 100K or a total of 450)
> Population: 735,951
Source: JHVEPhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
48. Texas
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 482 per 100K people (total: 139,100)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (77 per 100K or a total of 22,280)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (60 per 100K or a total of 17,230)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (50 per 100K or a total of 14,510)
> Population: 28,862,581
Source: davelogan / iStock via Getty Images
47. California
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 489 per 100K people (total: 192,770)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (81 per 100K or a total of 32,020)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (68 per 100K or a total of 26,970)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (43 per 100K or a total of 17,040)
> Population: 39,455,353
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Source: EntropyWorkshop / iStock via Getty Images
46. Colorado
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 505 per 100K people (total: 28,920)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (86 per 100K or a total of 4,910)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (74 per 100K or a total of 4,220)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (45 per 100K or a total of 2,600)
> Population: 5,723,176
Source: ivanastar / E+ via Getty Images
45. New Mexico
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 535 per 100K people (total: 11,280)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (82 per 100K or a total of 1,730)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (80 per 100K or a total of 1,680)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (46 per 100K or a total of 960)
> Population: 2,109,366
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Source: BackyardProduction / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
44. Virginia
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 549 per 100K people (total: 47,100)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (91 per 100K or a total of 7,810)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (88 per 100K or a total of 7,580)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (70 per 100K or a total of 6,010)
> Population: 8,582,479
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
43. Wyoming
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 550 per 100K people (total: 3,170)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (120 per 100K or a total of 690)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (80 per 100K or a total of 460)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (57 per 100K or a total of 330)
> Population: 576,641
42. North Dakota
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 565 per 100K people (total: 4,370)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (96 per 100K or a total of 740)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (79 per 100K or a total of 610)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (69 per 100K or a total of 530)
> Population: 773,344
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Source: LPETTET / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
41. Nevada
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 568 per 100K people (total: 17,370)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (86 per 100K or a total of 2,620)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (71 per 100K or a total of 2,180)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (66 per 100K or a total of 2,030)
> Population: 3,059,238
Source: DelmasLehman / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
40. Maryland
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 572 per 100K people (total: 35,200)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (97 per 100K or a total of 5,980)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (94 per 100K or a total of 5,760)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (70 per 100K or a total of 4,290)
> Population: 6,148,545
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
39. Kansas
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 574 per 100K people (total: 16,840)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (91 per 100K or a total of 2,680)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (84 per 100K or a total of 2,470)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (76 per 100K or a total of 2,240)
> Population: 2,932,099
Source: EyeMark / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
38. Georgia
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 576 per 100K people (total: 61,170)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (89 per 100K or a total of 9,440)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (86 per 100K or a total of 9,140)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (72 per 100K or a total of 7,610)
> Population: 10,625,615
Source: PhilipGua / iStock via Getty Images
37. Arizona
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 581 per 100K people (total: 41,120)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (88 per 100K or a total of 6,240)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (71 per 100K or a total of 5,060)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (63 per 100K or a total of 4,450)
> Population: 7,079,203
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Source: stevegeer / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
36. Illinois
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 582 per 100K people (total: 74,580)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (90 per 100K or a total of 11,530)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (83 per 100K or a total of 10,580)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (75 per 100K or a total of 9,670)
> Population: 12,821,813
Source: tankbmb / iStock via Getty Images
35. Hawaii
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 582 per 100K people (total: 8,460)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (102 per 100K or a total of 1,480)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (82 per 100K or a total of 1,190)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (64 per 100K or a total of 930)
> Population: 1,453,498
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Source: urbanglimpses / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
34. Washington
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 586 per 100K people (total: 44,630)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (93 per 100K or a total of 7,050)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (85 per 100K or a total of 6,450)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (66 per 100K or a total of 5,030)
> Population: 7,617,364
Source: RiverNorthPhotography / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
33. Nebraska
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 591 per 100K people (total: 11,530)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (112 per 100K or a total of 2,180)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (86 per 100K or a total of 1,670)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (69 per 100K or a total of 1,340)
> Population: 1,951,480
Source: jeremyiswild / Getty Images
32. Oklahoma
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 593 per 100K people (total: 23,420)
> Most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (86 per 100K or a total of 3,390)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (84 per 100K or a total of 3,330)
> Third most common cancer: Prostate (79 per 100K or a total of 3,100)
> Population: 3,948,136
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31. Indiana
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 596 per 100K people (total: 40,270)
> Most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (89 per 100K or a total of 6,020)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (86 per 100K or a total of 5,810)
> Third most common cancer: Prostate (83 per 100K or a total of 5,580)
> Population: 6,751,340
Source: knowlesgallery / iStock via Getty Images
30. Idaho
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 597 per 100K people (total: 10,810)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (94 per 100K or a total of 1,700)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (86 per 100K or a total of 1,560)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (60 per 100K or a total of 1,080)
> Population: 1,811,617
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29. South Dakota
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 606 per 100K people (total: 5,340)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (118 per 100K or a total of 1,040)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (86 per 100K or a total of 760)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (78 per 100K or a total of 690)
> Population: 881,785
Source: JodiJacobson / iStock via Getty Images
28. Minnesota
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 606 per 100K people (total: 34,380)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (92 per 100K or a total of 5,220)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (86 per 100K or a total of 4,880)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (70 per 100K or a total of 3,970)
> Population: 5,670,472
Source: arlutz73 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
27. New Jersey
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 608 per 100K people (total: 56,150)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (102 per 100K or a total of 9,460)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (93 per 100K or a total of 8,580)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (64 per 100K or a total of 5,920)
> Population: 9,234,024
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Source: GrandviewGraphics / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
26. Massachusetts
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 613 per 100K people (total: 42,880)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (97 per 100K or a total of 6,770)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (92 per 100K or a total of 6,430)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (83 per 100K or a total of 5,790)
> Population: 6,991,852
Source: JHVEPhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
25. Louisiana
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 614 per 100K people (total: 28,580)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (107 per 100K or a total of 4,970)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (87 per 100K or a total of 4,050)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (83 per 100K or a total of 3,850)
> Population: 4,657,305
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24. Mississippi
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 614 per 100K people (total: 18,210)
> Most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (95 per 100K or a total of 2,830)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (94 per 100K or a total of 2,790)
> Third most common cancer: Female breast (88 per 100K or a total of 2,610)
> Population: 2,967,023
Source: Jens_Lambert_Photography / Getty Images
23. Alabama
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 615 per 100K people (total: 30,730)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (106 per 100K or a total of 5,320)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (90 per 100K or a total of 4,500)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (86 per 100K or a total of 4,280)
> Population: 4,997,675
Source: Dane / Wikimedia Commons
22. Michigan
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 615 per 100K people (total: 61,910)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (89 per 100K or a total of 8,980)
> Second most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (86 per 100K or a total of 8,690)
> Third most common cancer: Prostate (83 per 100K or a total of 8,360)
> Population: 10,062,512
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Source: peterspiro / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
21. New York
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 616 per 100K people (total: 123,810)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (101 per 100K or a total of 20,390)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (93 per 100K or a total of 18,780)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (70 per 100K or a total of 14,150)
> Population: 20,114,745
20. Missouri
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 617 per 100K people (total: 37,910)
> Most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (94 per 100K or a total of 5,760)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (93 per 100K or a total of 5,700)
> Third most common cancer: Prostate (81 per 100K or a total of 5,000)
> Population: 6,141,534
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Source: Strekoza2 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
19. Oregon
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 619 per 100K people (total: 26,030)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (100 per 100K or a total of 4,220)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (81 per 100K or a total of 3,400)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (72 per 100K or a total of 3,030)
> Population: 4,207,177
Source: krblokhin / iStock via Getty Images
18. Arkansas
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 621 per 100K people (total: 18,670)
> Most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (98 per 100K or a total of 2,950)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (83 per 100K or a total of 2,510)
> Third most common cancer: Prostate (83 per 100K or a total of 2,500)
> Population: 3,006,309
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
17. Ohio
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 630 per 100K people (total: 74,140)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (95 per 100K or a total of 11,200)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (93 per 100K or a total of 10,980)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (91 per 100K or a total of 10,680)
> Population: 11,769,923
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Source: CRobertson / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
16. Tennessee
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 638 per 100K people (total: 43,790)
> Most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (96 per 100K or a total of 6,580)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (92 per 100K or a total of 6,280)
> Third most common cancer: Female breast (91 per 100K or a total of 6,210)
> Population: 6,859,497
Source: filo / Getty Images
15. Wisconsin
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 641 per 100K people (total: 37,640)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (99 per 100K or a total of 5,800)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (93 per 100K or a total of 5,460)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (79 per 100K or a total of 4,630)
> Population: 5,871,661
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14. Iowa
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 644 per 100K people (total: 20,460)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (93 per 100K or a total of 2,970)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (88 per 100K or a total of 2,810)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (84 per 100K or a total of 2,680)
> Population: 3,179,090
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
13. Rhode Island
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 644 per 100K people (total: 7,030)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (96 per 100K or a total of 1,050)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (94 per 100K or a total of 1,030)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (86 per 100K or a total of 940)
> Population: 1,091,949
Source: Alexander Farnsworth / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
12. Connecticut
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 651 per 100K people (total: 23,480)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (111 per 100K or a total of 3,990)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (100 per 100K or a total of 3,620)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (76 per 100K or a total of 2,750)
> Population: 3,605,330
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Source: J. Michael Jones / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
11. North Carolina
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 653 per 100K people (total: 67,690)
> Most common cancer: Female breast (104 per 100K or a total of 10,730)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (97 per 100K or a total of 10,040)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (85 per 100K or a total of 8,810)
> Population: 10,367,022
Source: fokusgood / iStock via Getty Images
10. Montana
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 659 per 100K people (total: 7,100)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (127 per 100K or a total of 1,370)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (96 per 100K or a total of 1,030)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (67 per 100K or a total of 720)
> Population: 1,077,978
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Source: ablokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
9. South Carolina
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 667 per 100K people (total: 33,890)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (114 per 100K or a total of 5,770)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (107 per 100K or a total of 5,430)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (92 per 100K or a total of 4,650)
> Population: 5,078,903
Source: benkrut / iStock via Getty Images
8. Kentucky
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 674 per 100K people (total: 30,270)
> Most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (115 per 100K or a total of 5,170)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (90 per 100K or a total of 4,030)
> Third most common cancer: Prostate (78 per 100K or a total of 3,520)
> Population: 4,494,141
Source: vermontalm / iStock via Getty Images
7. Vermont
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 681 per 100K people (total: 4,370)
> Most common cancer: Female breast and prostate (0 per 100K or a total of 630)
> Second most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (92 per 100K or a total of 630)
> Third most common cancer: Colon & rectum (47 per 100K or a total of 590)
> Population: 641,637
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Source: bgwalker / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
6. Pennsylvania
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 682 per 100K people (total: 88,450)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (102 per 100K or a total of 13,210)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (99 per 100K or a total of 12,830)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (87 per 100K or a total of 11,320)
> Population: 12,970,650
Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
5. New Hampshire
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 698 per 100K people (total: 9,580)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (103 per 100K or a total of 1,410)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (101 per 100K or a total of 1,390)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (93 per 100K or a total of 1,280)
> Population: 1,372,175
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4. West Virginia
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 713 per 100K people (total: 12,840)
> Most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (120 per 100K or a total of 2,170)
> Second most common cancer: Prostate (99 per 100K or a total of 1,780)
> Third most common cancer: Female breast (90 per 100K or a total of 1,620)
> Population: 1,801,049
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
3. Delaware
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 737 per 100K people (total: 7,240)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (135 per 100K or a total of 1,330)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (107 per 100K or a total of 1,050)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (94 per 100K or a total of 920)
> Population: 981,892
Source: mgahura / iStock via Getty Images
2. Florida
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 761 per 100K people (total: 162,410)
> Most common cancer: Prostate (112 per 100K or a total of 24,000)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (106 per 100K or a total of 22,670)
> Third most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (91 per 100K or a total of 19,340)
> Population: 21,339,762
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Source: DmitryPepper / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
1. Maine
> Est. new cases of all cancers: 773 per 100K people (total: 10,490)
> Most common cancer: Lung & bronchus (114 per 100K or a total of 1,550)
> Second most common cancer: Female breast (107 per 100K or a total of 1,450)
> Third most common cancer: Prostate (89 per 100K or a total of 1,210)
> Population: 1,357,046
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