Cancer is a large group of disease characterized by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells.  If the growth is left uncontrolled, it can result in death.  Many cancers can be prevented by lifestyle changes or can be cured if detected early and treated promptly.^!  Overall, minority groups suffer disproportionate mortality rates from cancer, the second leading cause of death in Florida. Although the age-adjusted cancer incidence rate is similar for whites and non-whites, the age-adjusted mortality rate for all cancer sites is 21.6% higher for non-whites than for whites.^!  The death rate from cancer for non-white men is 36% higher than that for whites (254 versus 186 per 100,000). Non-whites have a higher mortality rate from lung, prostate, colorectal, breast and cervical cancer. Moreover, more whites, both male and female, are diagnosed with cancer at the local stage (82% of white versus 74% of non-white men with prostate cancer, and 68% of white versus 50% of non-white women with invasive breast cancer).  

^{!American Cancer Society (2001-2002). Florida Cancer Facts and Figures.}