Frequently Asked Questions
What does this map show?
The map shows the total and counts for 23 types of cancer newly diagnosed between 2003 and 2007 in small geographic areas made up of census blocks within New York State. The map also shows the locations of environmental facilities across the state.
Which types of cancer are shown on the map?
There are many types of cancer, some of which are quite rare. Cancers are identified by the organ in which the cancer originated. The map displays the following cancer types:
- Oral cavity and pharynx (excluding nasopharynx)
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Colon and rectum
- Liver and intrahepatic bile duct
- Pancreas
- Nasal cavity and nasopharynx
- Larynx
- Lung and bronchus
- Bones and joints
- Soft tissue
- Female breast
- Corpus uterus
- Ovary
- Prostate
- Testis
- Urinary bladder (including in situ)
- Kidney and renal pelvis
- Brain and other nervous system
- Thyroid
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Mesothelioma
- Other cancer not specifically listed
For more information on the causes of selected cancers, see Learn More About Different Types of Cancers.
What types of environmental facilities and sites are shown on the map?
- Water discharge sites
- Petroleum bulk storage
- Title V and State Air facilities
- Hazardous waste management facilities
- Active Solid Waste Sites
- Large quantity hazardous waste generators
- Brownfields
- State Superfund Program inactive hazardous waste sites
- Vehicle dismantling facilities
- Commercial pesticide sellers
- Chemical bulk storage facilties
- Environmental Restoration Program facilities
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action sites
- Voluntary Cleanup Program sites
- Major oil storage facilities
For more information on the environmental facilities and site, see Learn More about Different Types of Environmental Facilities
Will it be possible to identify me as a cancer patient on the map?
People are very unlikely to be identified from these data. Because of concerns about patient confidentiality, census blocks are grouped together with neighboring blocks to prevent identification of individual people with cancer. Blocks were combined until the area contained a minimum of six total male cases and six total female cases.
Why do some combined blocks seem to have a lot of cancers?
Some areas might have a lot more residents than others, so you would expect to see more cases of cancer. Also, cancer is more frequent among older persons, so there may be more cases of cancer in communities where residents are older.
Why do some areas in the map have no cancer data and/or no population data?
You may click on the map to identify a region and see a message saying, "This area contains no population and no cancer cases." These areas are made up of census blocks that contain no population, and may be vacant land, water or commercial areas.
Why would an area list cancer cases when the population is zero?
This is because the population data are from the 2000 census, and the cancer cases cover diagnoses between 2003 and 2007. These are mainly locations where housing was constructed after 2000. There are also several areas in which the census populations are in error, particularly for group quarters, which includes nursing homes, dormitories and barracks.
How can I calculate a rate for an area?
To calculate a crude rate, multiply the population by five and then divide the cancer cases by this number. Multiplying the population by five is necessary because the cancer cases cover five years while the population covers one year. This rate is a crude rate, meaning it has not been adjusted for age or any other factors. The number of cancer cases are expected to be higher in areas with an older population, but the crude rate does not capture this. Rates that are based on fewer than 20 cases are unstable and caution should be taken when interpreting this information.
Am I more at risk if my community has a lot of cancers?
If you live or lived in an area where there are a lot of cancers, it does not mean that you are more likely to get cancer than someone who lives in an area with fewer cases of cancer. Your risk depends on many things including your age, lifestyle (smoking, diet), your family history, and contact you have with cancer causing agents (sunlight, x-rays, tobacco smoke, some chemicals).
Can the map tell us if environmental facilities are related to increased cancer in my community?
No. A map cannot prove that something in the environment, including emissions from environmental facilities, causes cancer.
Cancers develop slowly in people. They usually appear 5 to 40 years after exposure to a cancer causing agent. This is called the latency period. This is one of the reasons it is difficult to determine what causes cancer in humans.
The map with cancer data shows where people lived at the time of their cancer diagnosis. We don't know if the people with cancer lived in the area 5 to 40 years ago or if they could have breathed, eaten, drank or touched any cancer-causing releases from these facilities. We also don't know anything about their individual risk factors for cancer.
The map with environmental facilities data shows the facility locations. It doesn't provide information about whether or not chemicals were released to the environment or whether people might have breathed, eaten, drank or touched any chemicals from these facilities.
A map may be able to suggest that additional research should be considered. However, much additional information needs to be collected and evaluated before deciding to do additional research. This type of research takes time and is difficult. Very few studies of people exposed to chemicals in the environmental have been able to draw firm conclusions. Studies of people exposed to chemicals in the workplace are more likely to be able to draw conclusions about exposure and disease. This is because workplace exposures are higher.
