| Mortality | |
| Number of deaths (2005 est.)............................................................................................... | 570,2801 |
| Cause of death rank (2003)................................................................................................... | 2nd2 |
| Prevalence | |
| Number of Americans that have been diagnosed with cancer (2001)........................................ | 9,800,0001 |
| Incidence | |
| New cases (2005 est.)....................................................................................................... | 1,372,9101 |
| New cases of breast cancer in women (2005 est.)................................................................ | 211,2401 |
| Cost | |
| Total costi (2005)........................................................................................................... | $209.9 billion3 |
| Direct costsii (2005)......................................................................................................... | $74 billion3 |
Evidence-based consensus defining good quality care and how to measure it currently exists for only a few cancers and a few aspects of care. Breast and colorectal cancers have high incidence rates and are highlighted in alternate years. The 2004 NHQR highlighted colorectal cancer; this year's focus is on breast cancer— specifically, prevention. The core report measures are:
i Total cost is composed of the cost of medical care itself (direct cost), in addition to the indirect, economic costs of morbidity and mortality.
ii Direct costs are defined as "personal health care expenditures for hospital and nursing home care, drugs, home care, and physician and other professional services." National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Fact Book Fiscal Year 2004. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.