Cancer Data Everyone Can Understand

Data Don’t Have to Be Daunting!

What comes to mind when you hear the word “data?” It might be numbers on a spreadsheet or answers in an online form. But you might be surprised to learn that data can be shown in ways that are colorful, simple, and useful!

That’s the idea behind our U.S. Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations tool. This application was made so everyone—not just scientists—can understand cancer data.

It uses information about cancer cases collected across the country—more than 1.7 million cases of cancer every year. You can search by types of cancer, places, and groups of people, then create charts, maps, and graphs. Many pages also tell you what the images mean.

Maybe you’re a student doing a project on lung cancer. Perhaps you have a family member with colorectal cancer and want to see what rates are in your state. Even if you’re retired and want to volunteer to help people prevent the most common cancer where you live, the Data Visualizations tool can help you find important information.

How CDC Uses Data

While it’s important that people without a background in science be able to understand the numbers when it comes to cancer, it’s just as important to make sure you understand how experts use information to make everyone’s lives better.

Check out this special blog post for National Cancer Control Month by one of our epidemiologists (a scientist who studies how diseases affect groups of people). It shows how we look at data to help deliver cancer prevention and treatment where they’re needed most.

Preview: Protect Your Skin Year-Round

May is just around the corner. That means days are getting longer and hotter. You may start to think about that beach vacation on Memorial Day weekend or the trip to the lake in June.

The “burning” question is: do you think about protecting your skin from the sun while doing day-to-day activities like going to a baseball game, working in the yard, or picnicking in the park? Rays from the sun and other sources can cause skin cancer. Luckily, you and your family can take simple steps to lower your skin cancer risk and avoid getting sunburned. Stay tuned for all the “hottest” information about sun safety—coming soon!