Cancer Incidence - Thyroid Cancer
Summary Indicator Report Data View Options
Incidence of Thyroid Cancer by County, New Mexico, 2017-2021
Why Is This Important?
Thyroid cancer occurs in the thyroid gland, which is located near the front of your neck. Thyroid cancer is one of the least deadly cancers, and most cases can be treated successfully. It also differs from most other adult cancers in that it occurs much more frequently in younger adults, particularly women between the ages of 20 and 55. Each year, thyroid cancer accounts for around 2.3% of all new cancer cases and 0.4% of all cancer deaths in the U.S. This equates to approximately 44,000 cases and 2,200 deaths. The five-year survival rate is over 98%. The causes of thyroid cancer remain largely unknown, but likely involve both hereditary and environmental factors.
Definition
Thyroid cancer incidence refers to the number of persons newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer during a specified time period. Measures include: 1) the number of newly diagnosed thyroid cancer cases; and 2) age-adjusted thyroid cancer incidence rates (adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 US standard population). All rates are expressed per 100,000 persons.
Data Sources
- New Mexico Population Estimates: University of New Mexico, Geospatial and Population Studies (GPS) Program.
(http://gps.unm.edu/) - New Mexico Tumor Registry
(https://nmtrweb.unm.edu/) - Cancer Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program
(http://www.seer.cancer.gov)
How the Measure is Calculated
| Numerator: | The number of thyroid cancer cases newly diagnosed in New Mexico residents within a specified time period. The data are based on the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program incidence site recode for thyroid cancer: 32010. http://seer.cancer.gov/siterecode/ |
| Denominator: | The estimated population of New Mexico residents within a specified time period. |
How Are We Doing?
New Mexico averaged about 326 new cases of thyroid cancer each year between 2016 and 2020. Since 2001, age-adjusted rates of thyroid cancer in New Mexico have increased by 30%, which is less than the national increase of 66%. Improvements in the detection and diagnosis of thyroid cancer accounts for some, but perhaps not all, of this increase.
How Do We Compare With the U.S.?
New Mexico has an almost identical incidence rate compared to the US with 14.7 vs 14.6 cases per 100,000, respectively. Asian/Pacific Islanders had the highest rate, in keeping with national trends, followed by non-Hispanic Whites.
Evidence-based Practices
https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/cancer/evidence-based-resources
Other Objectives
CDC Environmental Public Health Tracking, Nationally Consistent Data and Measures (EPHT NCDM)
More Resources
SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Thyroid Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/thyro.html
Health Program Information
https://nmtracking.doh.nm.gov/health/cancer/CancerConcernsWorkgroup.html