This report presents cancer statistics for 1996, including incidence, mortality, and survival rates for the United States. The data are based on estimates from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program and the U.S. Census Bureau. The report provides information on the number of new cancer cases and deaths by sex, site, and state, as well as cancer and noncancer mortality, the probability of developing cancer at certain ages, and cancer survival in adults and children. Incidence data are estimated using SEER program rates and population projections. The SEER program uses data from nine population-based cancer registries covering about 10% of the U.S. population. The 1996 estimates of new cancer cases were calculated using a two-step procedure, including fitting annual estimates to a quadratic function. Adjustments were made for selected cancer sites with recent variations in case numbers. Mortality data are collected by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The 1996 estimates of cancer mortality were calculated by fitting cancer deaths reported from 1979-1992 to a quadratic function. State-specific cancer deaths were calculated using the same model. Adjustments were made for selected cancer sites with recent variations in death numbers. The report also presents cancer mortality data for minority populations and estimated probabilities of developing invasive cancers at certain ages. These probabilities were calculated using age-specific incidence and mortality rates from the SEER program. Five-year relative survival rates are used to monitor progress in cancer detection and treatment. These rates are based on the survival of cancer patients compared to the general population. The report also includes survival data by site, race, and stage at diagnosis for cases diagnosed between 1986-1991. International mortality rates are calculated from data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Mortality data from China are reported for certain urban and rural areas. The report acknowledges limitations in the estimates, including data limitations and potential underreporting of minority populations. The data are based on invasive cancers, except for bladder cancer, which includes carcinoma in situ. The estimates are based on data that are at least three years old and should be interpreted with caution.This report presents cancer statistics for 1996, including incidence, mortality, and survival rates for the United States. The data are based on estimates from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program and the U.S. Census Bureau. The report provides information on the number of new cancer cases and deaths by sex, site, and state, as well as cancer and noncancer mortality, the probability of developing cancer at certain ages, and cancer survival in adults and children. Incidence data are estimated using SEER program rates and population projections. The SEER program uses data from nine population-based cancer registries covering about 10% of the U.S. population. The 1996 estimates of new cancer cases were calculated using a two-step procedure, including fitting annual estimates to a quadratic function. Adjustments were made for selected cancer sites with recent variations in case numbers. Mortality data are collected by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The 1996 estimates of cancer mortality were calculated by fitting cancer deaths reported from 1979-1992 to a quadratic function. State-specific cancer deaths were calculated using the same model. Adjustments were made for selected cancer sites with recent variations in death numbers. The report also presents cancer mortality data for minority populations and estimated probabilities of developing invasive cancers at certain ages. These probabilities were calculated using age-specific incidence and mortality rates from the SEER program. Five-year relative survival rates are used to monitor progress in cancer detection and treatment. These rates are based on the survival of cancer patients compared to the general population. The report also includes survival data by site, race, and stage at diagnosis for cases diagnosed between 1986-1991. International mortality rates are calculated from data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Mortality data from China are reported for certain urban and rural areas. The report acknowledges limitations in the estimates, including data limitations and potential underreporting of minority populations. The data are based on invasive cancers, except for bladder cancer, which includes carcinoma in situ. The estimates are based on data that are at least three years old and should be interpreted with caution.