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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 In the United States, the lowest survival rates are in New York City, except for rectal cancer in women, where Wyoming scores worse. The best survival rate for cancer in the United States is in Hawaii, the researchers found.
Idaho also has a high survival rate for rectal cancer, and Seattle has the highest survival rate for prostate cancer.
But, there's a big disparity in cancer survival rates between whites and blacks in the United States, and it favors whites. The differences range from 7 percent for prostate cancer to 14 percent for breast cancer. This disparity is most likely due to differences in the stage of cancer when it is diagnosed, the researchers said.
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There's also a significant difference in cancer survival rates between the United States and Europe, with survival rates 10 percent and 34 percent higher in the United States for breast cancer and prostate cancer, respectively, the study found.
In Europe, France has the highest survival rate for rectal and colon cancers. Sweden has the highest survival rate for breast cancer, and Austria has the highest survival rate for prostate cancer.
The worst performing European countries are Poland and Slovakia.
Coleman said he hopes that political leaders will use the findings to provide better cancer diagnosis and treatment.
"Where the system is either slow in diagnosis, has too few doctors, has very few radiotherapy machines or in some countries, none, you would expect differences in outcome, and that's what these overall survival estimates are helping us provide," he said.
Dr. Elmer Huerta, president of the American Cancer Society's National Volunteer Board of Directors, said the study provides evidence for what has long been suspected -- namely, that where you live plays a role in cancer survival.
"The world needs to wake up to the fact that cancer is the second leading cause of death all over the place," he said. "Policymakers don't really put the weight to cancer care."
Huerta thinks more emphasis needs to be placed on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
"The world needs to smell the coffee and realize cancer can be prevented, and cancer can be cured if found early," he said.
More information
For more on cancer, visit the American Cancer Society.
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