%0 Journal Article %T Geographic disparities in colorectal cancer survival %A Kevin A Henry %A Xiaoling Niu %A Francis P Boscoe %J International Journal of Health Geographics %D 2009 %I BioMed Central %R 10.1186/1476-072x-8-48 %X Using data from a population-based, statewide cancer registry, we examined a cohort of 25,040 men and women from New Jersey who were newly diagnosed with local or regional stage colorectal cancer from 1996 through 2003 and followed to the end of 2006. Survival times were adjusted for significant prognostic factors (sex, age, stage at diagnosis, race/ethnicity and census tract socioeconomic deprivation) and evaluated using a spatial scan statistic to identify places where CRC survival was significantly longer or shorter than the statewide experience.Age, sex and stage adjusted survival times revealed several areas in the northern part of the state where CRC survival was significantly different than expected. The shortest and longest survival areas had an adjusted 5-year survival rate of 73.1% (95% CI 71.5, 74.9) and 88.3% (95% CI 85.4, 91.3) respectively, compared with the state average of 80.0% (95% CI 79.4, 80.5). Analysis of survival times adjusted for age, sex and stage as well as race/ethnicity and area socioeconomic deprivation attenuated the risk of death from CRC in several areas, but survival disparities persisted.The results suggest that in areas where additional adjustments for race/ethnicity and area socioeconomic deprivation changed the geographic survival patterns and reduced the risk of death from CRC, the adjustment factors may be contributing causes of the disparities. Further studies should focus on specific and modifiable individual and neighborhood factors in the high risk areas that may affect a person's chance of surviving cancer.In the past several years, there has been significant progress in reducing colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality rates in most US population groups [1]. Despite this progress, an unequal cancer burden is borne by blacks, relative to whites, and by individuals of lower socioeconomic position. These groups have higher incidence and mortality rates, lower survival rates, and greater percentages diagnosed at advan %U http://www.ij-healthgeographics.com/content/8/1/48