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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Cancer
Contact the Florida Cancer Program
- 850-245-4144
- cancer@flhealth.gov
-
Mailing Address
Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida - Cancer Program
4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin C-23
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Cancer occurs when abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues. Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they start.
Florida has the second highest cancer burden in the nation. Since 2014, cancer has been the second leading cause of death in Florida, after heart disease. In the three year period from 2016-2018, the total number of cancer deaths was 132,614.
There’s an average of 115,000 new cancers diagnosed and reported each year to the statewide cancer registry, the Florida Cancer Data System. Visit the Cancer Registry page for more information regarding the Florida Cancer Registry.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around one third of deaths from cancer are due to the 5 leading behavioral and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and alcohol use. Source: Who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer.
The top five most frequently diagnosed cancers in Florida in 2017 accounted for just over half of all cancer diagnoses (50.3%). The top five cancers were lung & bronchus (17,138), breast (16,785), prostate (12,539), colorectal (9,908), and melanoma (6,798). In females, the top five cancers were breast, lung & bronchus, colorectal, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and melanoma. In males, the top five cancers were prostate, lung & bronchus, colorectal, melanoma, and bladder. Source: Florida Cancer Data System
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide funding for cancer programs to address breast, cervical and colorectal cancer. For information on these cancer types and the state programs to address them, visit the links below:
For information on screening recommendations, please visit the US Preventive Service (USPSTF).
Other Cancers
For information on other cancers, please visit the following organizations' websites:
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