Use of state cancer surveillance data to estimate the cancer burden in disaster-affected areas--Hurricane Katrina, 2005.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to estimate the burden of cancer in counties affected by Hurricane Katrina using population-based cancer registry data, and to discuss issues related to cancer patients who have been displaced by disasters.


METHODS
The cancer burden was assessed in 75 counties in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi that were designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as eligible for individual and public assistance. Data from the National Program of Cancer Registries were used to determine three-year average annual age-adjusted incidence rates and case counts during the diagnosis years 2000-2002 for Louisiana and Alabama. Expected rates and counts for the most-affected counties in Mississippi were estimated by direct, age-specific calculation using the 2000-2002 county level populations and the site-, sex-, race-, and age-specific cancer incidence rates for Louisiana.


RESULTS
An estimated 23,549 persons with a new diagnosis of cancer in the past year resided in the disaster-affected counties. Fifty-eight percent of the cases were cancers of the lung/bronchus, colon/rectum, female breast, and prostate. Eleven of the top 15 cancer sites by sex and black/white race in disaster counties had >50% of cases diagnosed at the regional or distant stage.


CONCLUSIONS
Sizable populations of persons with a recent cancer diagnosis were potentially displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Cancer patients required special attention to access records in order to confirm diagnosis and staging, minimize disruption in treatment, and ensure coverage of care. Cancer registry data can be used to provide disaster planners and clinicians with estimates of the number of cancer patients, many of whom may be undergoing active treatment.
Joseph
Djenaba A
DA
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Centers for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. dvk5@cdc.gov
Wingo
Phyllis A
PA
King
Jessica B
JB
Pollack
Lori A
LA
Richardson
Lisa C
LC
Wu
Xiaocheng
X
Chen
Vivien
V
Austin
Harland D
HD
Rogers
Deirdre
D
Cook
Janice
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods*; D004190:Disasters; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008922:Mississippi / Q000453:epidemiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D011635:Public Health Administration; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018426:SEER Program / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data