Clermont County shares the distinction of having Ohio's highest rate of new cancer cases, according to a report issued Wednesday by the American Cancer Society.

        And despite gradual progress on reducing cancer deaths, especially in children, several southwest Ohio counties still exceed state averages for cancer incidence and deaths.

        The biggest single factor remains high rates of lung cancer, which reflect traditionally high smoking rates in the Tristate. Rising obesity also appears to be aggravating breast and colorectal cancer rates in the area.

        “It is unfortunately true (that the county has the highest cancer rates in the state), but I don't think most people in Clermont County realize it,” said Bill Werner, executive director of the American Cancer Society's Southwest Ohio chapter, which covers seven counties outside Hamilton County.

        High smoking rates and poor diets are big problems in Clermont County — and throughout Ohio's Appalachian counties, Mr. Werner said. But the cancer society has struggled to get the word out.

        Just this year, the group hired its first cancer control coordinator to promote cancer prevention in Clermont, Brown and Adams counties.

        In Clermont County, the annual rate of new cancer cases was 533.1 per 100,000 residents, which tied with Jefferson County as the highest rate in Ohio, and exceeded the state average of 462.9 cases by 15 percent.

        A big reason for the high overall cancer rate is that Clermont County also had the state's highest rate of new lung cancer cases — the No. 1 cancer killer in the state. Clermont County's rates of colorectal, breast and prostate cancers also were above state average, the report shows.

        Hamilton County and Adams County also exceeded state averages for new cancer cases, while Brown, Butler and Warren counties reported lower-than-average cancer rates.

        In terms of cancer death rates, Adams, Brown, Clermont and Hamilton counties had higher death rates than state average. Meigs County had the state's highest cancer death rate.

        Butler and Warren counties had lower-than-average death rates, while Noble County had Ohio's lowest cancer death rate. For Butler and Warren counties, death rates were below average across several types of cancer.

        Even though county comparisons are difficult, the report offers encouraging signs in the battle against cancer, officials said.

        “This report shows that remarkable progress has been made in some forms of cancer. But it also reminds us that the battle is far from over,” said Dr. Walter Handy, assistant Cincinnati health commissioner.

        More than half of all adult cancer cases and about 65 percent of all cancer deaths could be prevented by changes in lifestyle, Dr. Handy said.

        Much more work needs to be done to prevent smoking, to promote exercise and healthy eating, and to encourage people to get routine cancer screenings, he said.

        Statewide, about 25,400 people will die of cancer this year, the cancer society predicts.

        Over years, the federal government, the cancer society and others have pumped billions into cancer research and treatment, which has produced some true benefits.

        Five-year survival rates that were as low as 33 percent in the 1960s have risen to 62 percent today. Mortality rates for childhood cancer have been cut in half, said Dave Myers, executive director of the cancer society's Hamilton County unit.

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