Cancer has become the second most prevalent fatal disease in the United States, and the world at large. Cancer can affect any body part of essential organ or bodily system, and it doesn’t discriminate as far as age, gender, or race. While skin cancer is the top cancer that affects Americans, closely followed by lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer, there are more than 100 types of cancer in total.

When cancer is diagnosed early, there is a best life expectancy rate, however, there are certain dietary, physical and environmental factors within our control to help prevent cancer development. For instance, not smoking, using sun protection, and living in cities with low air pollution may help. Here are the U.S. states with the highest rates of cancer:

1. Kentucky
Kentucky cancer rates have been drastically increasing over the years. More and more patients are being diagnosed with cancer. An approximate of 511.7 people 1000000 are diagnosed with cancer. This is a very high rate. Kentucky is also among the leading states with the highest death rates of cancer. The common type of cancer in Kentucky is lung cancer, prostate and breast cancer. Lung cancer leads and has killed so many people here. This is because the rates of smoking are very high attributing to cancer.

2. West Virginia
This state also has a very high number of people who are affected by cancer. The highest number of these patients are women. Just like the rates of infection, the West Virginia cancer rates of deaths are still high. The leading types of cancer include breast cancer, lung cancer, bronchus cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer.

3. Mississippi
Mississippi has been ranked as one of the most unhealthy states in America. The Mississippi cancer rates are also very high in both women and men. The main causes of cancer in this region include obesity, tobacco smoking and excessive use of alcohol. The most common types of cancer include breast cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer.

4. Arkansas
In every 100000 people who are diagnosed with cancer, 464 percent of this number must be cancer positive. The Arkansas cancer rates of death are approximately 85 percent of the same number. Among the states of America, the highest number of patients with colon cancer is from this state. Most of these patients who are diagnosed with cancer are obese, smokers, or alcohol addicts.

5. Tennessee
The leading cause of deaths in Tennessee is heart disease followed by cancer. A great number of the Tennessee cancer patients are caused by obesity. The Tennessee cancer rates have greatly increased with more and more patients being diagnosed with lung cancer, colon cancer, melanoma cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer.