An official US map reveals the biggest cancer hotspots in the country, showing swathes of the South and Midwest in red.
This comes after a major study earlier this week found that nearly half of cancer deaths in the United States can be attributed to six decisions people make in their daily lives.
The map, based on the latest CDC data, shows the cancer death rate is highest in Mississippi, at 985 deaths per 100,000 people.
Rounding out the top five are all Southern states, where obesity, smoking and alcohol rates are higher than the U.S. average and health care is spotty.
A report by the American Cancer Society found that 44 percent of cancer deaths could be attributed to behaviors people engaged in during their lifetime.
The figures represent mortality from 2016 to 2020, the latest data available.
The Mississippi state health department has suggested that its rate is so high because of a lack of preventive screening, particularly in rural areas, along with a lack of exercise statewide.
West Virginia came in second, with 966.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, which could be due to high obesity rates.
Southern states rounded out the top five, including Kentucky with 947.2 cases per 100,000, Alabama with 941.7 and Tennessee with 916.2.
Meanwhile, Hawaii had the lowest incidence of cancer deaths, with 573.9 cases per 100,000 residents.
Experts have suggested this could be due to low rates of cancer-causing risk factors such as obesity and smoking.
The findings come after a shocking report from the American Cancer Society found that nearly half of all cancer deaths in the United States could be prevented, as they are linked to lifestyle factors such as smoking, eating red meat, being physically inactive and getting too much sun.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that nearly 2 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year and more than 600,000 will die.
Lung and bronchial cancer are projected to cause the most deaths (125,000), followed closely by colorectal cancer, which has been increasing among young Americans.
According to NCI data, most cancer deaths in Mississippi are due to lung and bronchus cancer, and lung cancer deaths are 30 percent higher than the national average.
According to the tobacco prevention charity Truth Initiative, about 17 percent of adults in Mississippi smoke, compared with 14 percent nationally.
In addition, a report The Mississippi State Department of Health stated that “our high rates of cancer and cancer deaths are due in part to a lack of regular cancer screening and in part to lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity.”
Department of Health data found, for example, that Mississippi is the fifth most obese state.
Experts believe that excess body fat alters the way the body regulates hormones and inflammation, which can lead to an increased risk of cancer.
West Virginia came in second, which could be due to high smoking rates and a lack of preventive screening.
According to the West Virginia Department of Health, more than one in four adults smoke cigarettes every day or some days, and just over half have tried to quit in the past year — the lowest rate in the nation.
And recent CDC data found that the Mountain State had the highest obesity rate in the country, with 41 percent of adults having a BMI over 30.
And Kentucky had the third-highest rate of cancer deaths, which experts believe could be because the state has the most lung cancer cases in the nation and the highest smoking rate in the country.
Lung cancers account for the majority of deaths, closely followed by colorectal, breast and prostate cancer.
Meanwhile, the NCI found that Hawaii had the fewest cancer deaths between 2016 and 2020, at 573.9 per 100,000 residents.
That could be because the Aloha State has the highest life expectancy rate in the country, at 80.7 years on average, according to the CDC.
TO Study 2022 A Commonwealth Fund study found that Hawaii ranks first among all 50 states in terms of state health care system performance, suggesting more screening to detect the disease early.
In 2022, Hawaii also had the second-lowest obesity rate, behind Colorado.
California, New York, Minnesota and Connecticut rounded out the bottom five results.