The Data Committee analyses data from sources including the Utah Cancer Registry, Utah’s Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Data Resource (IBIS) and Healthy Places Indicators. They provide data for coalition research and help to inform the State Cancer Plan.

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Utah Demographics

There are 3.4 million people that live in the state of Utah. As the state with the youngest population in the country, 30% of the Utah population is under the age of 20 and only 12% of the population is over the age of 65.

The majority of Utah residents are non-Hispanic White (77%), followed by Hispanic (14%), Asian or Pacific Islander (4%), Black (2%), and American Indian or Alaskan Native (1%). Most Utahns (88%) live in urban counties. (Quick Facts, Utah.gov)

Data

Utah Rates

  • Utah’s rates of melanoma (41.4 per 100,000 people), thyroid cancer (16.8 per 100,000), and prostate cancer (122.3 per 100,000) are significantly higher than the rest of the United States. (NIH State Cancer Profiles).
  • Between 2012 and 2021, rates of certain cancers, including breast, colorectal, cervical, and kidney cancers, increased among young adults (ages 20-49 years) in Utah.
  • Utah’s rate of death from prostate cancer is higher than the rate of death from prostate cancer in the rest of the United States.
  • Utah has the third highest rate of cancer in adolescents and young adults (ages 15-39) in the United States.
  • One in three Utahns will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Cancer is the second most common cause of death, behind heart disease.

These data, along with other cancer statistics, can be found in Cancer in Utah, which is published every two years by the Utah Cancer Registry.

https://uofuhealth.utah.edu/utah-cancer-registry/cancer-statistics

Number of Utahns Cancer Diagnosis and Deaths

Cancer in Utah is more than just rates. Here are the numbers of individual Utahns who have been diagnosed with or died from cancer in the last year.

  • There are over 142,000 cancer survivors living in the state of Utah.
  • More than 17,000 Utahns will be diagnosed with cancer this year.

Cancer in Utah by Race and Ethnicity

Race and ethnicity are factors in likelihood of cancer diagnosis and death.

How do Utah Rates Compare to the Nation?

Utah has unique cancer control needs to influence unique rates.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a statewide survey conducted by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services to understand health behaviors for the state of Utah.

Cancer Screening

Breast cancer screening is recommended for women aged 40-74. In 2024, 67.2% of Utah women ages 40-74 had received a mammogram in the last two years.

Cervical cancer screening is recommended for women aged 21-65. In 2022, 63% of women ages 21-65 have received a Pap test within the last 3 years.

Colorectal cancer screening is recommended for everyone aged 45 to 75. In 2024, 70.6% of Utahns ages 45-75 were up to date with the screening guidelines for either colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or fecal occult blood test.

Healthy Behaviors

HPV Vaccination can prevent at least six different types of cancer, including cervical and oral cancer. It is recommended that all adolescents, including both boys and girls, get HPV vaccinations. In 2023, 61.2% of teens aged 13-17 in Utah received the recommended series of HPV vaccinations.

Utah has the lowest rate of smoking among all states, with 5.8% of adults reporting that they are regular smokers in 2024. In the U.S., 13.4% of adults are regular smokers.

Cancer Survivor Experiences Survey (CASES)

The Utah Cancer Registry has been conducting an annual survey of cancer survivors since 2018 to better understand the needs of cancer survivors.

Some highlights of the results of this survey include:

  • 46% of Utah cancer survivors experience physical, mental, or emotional limitations as a result of their cancer diagnosis. (1)
  • Financial hardship as a result of the cancer diagnosis was common, impacting 35% of Utah cancer survivors. (2)
  • Among Utah cancer survivors, 22% report ongoing pain due to their cancer treatment. Of those, 24% reported their pain was not under control. (3)
  • Only 21% of Utah cancer survivors are meeting the recommended guidelines for weekly aerobic physical activity and strength training. Individuals treated with both chemotherapy and radiation are less likely to get enough physical activity compared to survivors who did not receive cancer treatment. (4)
  • Utah cancer survivors are slightly more likely to be up to date on cancer screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer compared to the general Utah population. (5)

References:

(1) Limitation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36723708/

(2) Financial hardship: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38340250/

(3) Pain: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40474012/

(4) Activity: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38866381/

(5) Screening: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cam4.5168