By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

SPRINGFIELD — Cancer is touching the lives of more and more people in Illinois, according to statistics from the Illinois State Cancer Registry.

The ISCR released its county statistics review for the years of 2001 through 2005 last month.

“Cancer incidence data are from the Illinois Department of Public Health, the only source of population-based cancer incidence data for the state. Newly diagnosed cancer cases among Illinois residents are reported to the ISCR by the health care facilities where the cancer is diagnosed and treated. Central cancer registries and facilities in other states also report data to ISCR on Illinois residents diagnosed and treated for cancer in their states. ... Additionally, a death certificate clearance process involving active follow-back of cancer deaths in an effort to identify missed cases has been employed as an added means of case identification since August 1993.”

Case reporting is mandated within six months of diagnosis.

According to the report, Jefferson County, between the dates of the report, had 1,180 cases of invasive cancer and bladder cancer; 169 incidents of colo-rectal cancer; 176 cases of lung and bronchus cancer; 43 cases of melanoma of the skin; 155 cases of breast cancer; and 174 cases of prostate cancer.

Invasive cancer cases reported during the five year period for other area counties include Clinton County at 897; Effingham County at 940; Fayette County at 593; Franklin County at 1,364; Hamilton County at 230; Marion County at 1,401; Washington County at 481; Williamson County at 1,909; and Wayne County at 537 cases.

Reports of invasive cancers during the reporting period show that more men were being diagnosed with them than women. Statewide, there were 302,060 total reported and 154,249 were men and 17,811 were women.

Many people may believe that more men than women are diagnosed with colo-rectal cancer, however, in Southern Illinois, the numbers for most counties show the cases to be fairly evenly distributed.

In Jefferson County, the 169 cases diagnosed were distributed between 83 men and 86 women. Other area counties reported: Clinton County at 132 cases distributed between 66 men and 66 women; Effingham County had 125 cases distributed between 63 men and 62 women; Fayette County reported 205 cases of which 103 were men and 102 were women; Franklin County had 205 cases with 103 of them men and 102 women; Hamilton County had 27 cases with 18 men and nine women; Marion County had 176 cases divided among 81 men and 95 women; Washington County had 71 cases between 35 men and 26 women; Williamson County reported 216 cases between 109 men and 107 women; and Wayne County had 77 cases divided among 42 men and 35 women.

Incidents of lung and bronchus cancer were high based on population for Franklin County, with 262 cases diagnosed. Franklin County was second to Williamson County, which had 315 cases. Other counties in Southern Illinois were: Clinton County at 139 cases; Effingham County at 129 cases; Fayette County at 262 cases; Hamilton County at 53 cases; Marion County at 237 cases; Washington County at 70 cases; Williamson County at 315; and Wayne County at 97 cases.

Skin cancers, or melanoma of the skin, was reported at 43 cases between 2001 and 2005 in Jefferson County. Other counties reported: Clinton County at 28; Effingham County at 30; Fayette County at 14; Franklin County at 45; Hamilton County at 5; Marion County at 59 cases; Washington County at 24; Williamson County at 56; and Wayne County at 16.

Breast cancer was also a cancer reported in higher numbers throughout the state. In Southern Illinois: Clinton County 111; Effingham County at 131; Fayette County at 65; Franklin County at 135; Hamilton County at 25; Marion County at 175; Washington County at 55; Williamson County at 262; and Wayne County at 79.

Prostate cancer had similar numbers in Southern Illinois. Clinton County reported 122 cases; Effingham County 177; Fayette County 97; Hamilton County 36; Marion County 197; Washington County 62; Williamson County 230; and Wayne County 230.