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N.C. DHHS Releases Summary of Selected Cancer Rates for Counties in Cape Fear Region
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) examined data from the North
Carolina Central Cancer Registry and shared a summary of that analysis earlier today with four local
health department directors. Our analysis revealed that cancer rates in the four counties were similar to
the statewide rates.
This summary was prepared to answer questions that have arisen about cancer rates during the ongoing
investigation of GenX in the Cape Fear River. Overall, cancer rates in the four counties were similar to
state rates. There were two exceptions where the county incidence rates were higher than the state and
four where the incidence rates were lower.
DHHS Deputy Secretary for Health Services Mark Benton explained that the results revealed that the
county cancer rates are similar to the state rates, and do not point to any consistent trends in counties
that get their water from the lower Cape Fear. "They are overall what we would expect to see in a
multiple county examination, with some rates below and above the state rate," said Benton. "Many
factors influence these cancer incidence rates, including age of the population, disease prevalence,
personal behavior as well as exposure — none of which are answered in the cancer registry.
For this comparison, DHHS looked at the incidence of five specific cancers in Bladen, Brunswick, New
Hanover, and Pender Counties and compared them with state-wide cancer rates from 1996 to 2015. The
rates of pancreatic, liver, uterine, testicular and kidney cancers were chosen for analysis because they
have been associated with GenX or other perfluorinated compounds in laboratory animal studies. The
incidence rates were compileafor the entire 20-year period and separately for each 5-year interval
therein (1996-2000, 2001-2005, 2006-2010 and 2011-2015).
The results showed that county rates for these cancers were similar to state rates with the following
exceptions:
New Hanover County had a higher 20-year rate of testicular cancer during 1996-2015 and a
higher 5-year rate of liver cancers during 2006-2010 compared with the state. NOTE: Rates of
both cancers in New Hanover County were similar to the state rates during the most recent
period (2011-2015).
Brunswick County had a lower 20-year rate of pancreatic cancer during 1996-2015; a lower 5-
year rate of uterine cancer during 2006-2010; and a lower 5-year rate of pancreatic cancer
during 2011-2015 compared with the state.
Bladen County had a lower 20-year rate of kidney cancer during 1996-2015 compared with the
state.
Central Cancer Registry data does not include information about causes of cancer or associations with
specific exposures; therefore, no conclusions can be drawn about the association between GenX or other
exposures and the cancer rates described here. The Registry collects, processes and analyzes data on all
cancer cases diagnosed among North Carolina residents to inform the planning and evaluation of cancer
control efforts.
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Although the information in the summary describes cancer rates in these counties overtime, only a
comprehensive research study can provide information about whether a specific exposure is associated
with increased rates of cancer. ###
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