California's Cancer Burden
Chapter Narrative
Cancer is a significant burden in California. In the year 2030 (half-way point to our goal), it is predicted that California will see close to 220,000 new cancer cases and about 74,000 cancer-related deaths. In 2022, 190,073 new cancers were diagnosed, and 60,064 people died in California. This corresponds to an age-adjusted incidence rate (AAIR) of 413.0 per 100,000 and an age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) of 130.6 per 100,000. Since 1988, the average annual percent change (AAPC) in the AAIR of all cancers has decreased significantly by 0.5 percent per year and the AAPC in the AAMR has decreased significantly by 1.4 percent per year. Even though cancer incidence and mortality rates are declining, it's estimated that nearly half of all Californians born today will develop a cancer at some point in their lifetime.
(See Figure 1: Trends AAIR & AAMR 1988-2022)
What's Missing: Data Collection Gaps
While cancer data provides valuable insight into trends across California, the data is only as good as the data collected. Cancer data representing key populations—such as LGBTQ+ communities, small racial and ethnic subgroups (e.g., AI/AN), and children—are challenging to collect and meaningfully share, limited in scope (e.g., lacking clinical and non-clinical data, genomics, related social determinants of health, etc.) and often simply inaccessible to cancer surveillance registries. These data gaps contribute to missed opportunities for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, limiting the ability to fully understand and respond to the cancer burden across all communities and potentially impacting funding to support cancer prevention programs within marginalized communities. By acknowledging these limitations, the registry aims to improve transparency in data interpretation and highlight the need for more inclusive and representative data collection. Efforts to address these gaps are discussed further in the Cancer Surveillance and Data chapter.
Figure 1:
California Cancer Registry (www.ccrcal.org), California Department of Public Health.
SEER*Stat Database: Incidence - California, April 2025 (1988-2022), 05/16/2025.
Benchmarked 1988-1989 DOF population estimates, 6/12/2006,
Postcensal Vintage 2023 Estimates with modifications by NCI and Woods and Poole population estimates for 1990-2022.
Cancer Burden Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-Based, Inclusive, and Equitable (SMARTIE) Objectives
- Objective 1: By 2035, decrease the rate of combined cancer incidence in California by 7.8 percent, from the current baseline of 413.0 to 380.8 cancer cases per 100,000 persons.
- Objective 2: By 2035, decrease the rate of combined cancer mortality in California by 15.6 percent, from the current baseline of 130.6 to 110.2 cancer cases per 100,000 persons.
Data source: CCR, 2022