The article provides an overview of cancer statistics in the United States for 2011, including incidence and mortality rates. It projects that there will be approximately 1,596,670 new cancer cases and 571,950 cancer deaths in the country. Overall cancer incidence rates have been stable or declining in recent years, with significant decreases in all racial/ethnic groups except for American Indian/Alaska Native women. African American and Hispanic men showed the largest annual decreases in cancer death rates. Lung cancer death rates in women have shown a significant decline after increasing since the 1930s. The reduction in overall cancer death rates since 1990 has avoided about 898,000 deaths. However, cancer death rates for individuals with the least education are more than twice those of the most educated, highlighting the need to address educational and racial disparities. Eliminating these disparities could potentially avoid about 37% of premature cancer deaths among individuals aged 25 to 64 years in 2007. The article also discusses regional variations in cancer rates and survival rates by race and ethnicity, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to reduce disparities.The article provides an overview of cancer statistics in the United States for 2011, including incidence and mortality rates. It projects that there will be approximately 1,596,670 new cancer cases and 571,950 cancer deaths in the country. Overall cancer incidence rates have been stable or declining in recent years, with significant decreases in all racial/ethnic groups except for American Indian/Alaska Native women. African American and Hispanic men showed the largest annual decreases in cancer death rates. Lung cancer death rates in women have shown a significant decline after increasing since the 1930s. The reduction in overall cancer death rates since 1990 has avoided about 898,000 deaths. However, cancer death rates for individuals with the least education are more than twice those of the most educated, highlighting the need to address educational and racial disparities. Eliminating these disparities could potentially avoid about 37% of premature cancer deaths among individuals aged 25 to 64 years in 2007. The article also discusses regional variations in cancer rates and survival rates by race and ethnicity, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to reduce disparities.