Abstract: Background and purpose: With lifestyle shifts, incidence and mortality patterns for cancers have changed. In order to provide scientific basis for the government to control the diseases, this study investigated the cancer mortality among residents of Rugao city for the period 2008 through 2012. Methods: The epidemiological study of cancer mortality rates among residents of Rugao city was carried out. The results were analyzed with Excel and SPSS software. Results: Cancer was the leading cause of death. The crude mortality rate was 264.55/100 000 and the SMR (standardized mortality ratio) was 155.04/100 000. The mortality of cancer was higher in the male than in the female patients. The top 5 causes of cancer death among residents of Rugao city were esophageal cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, and pancreatic cancer for the period 2008 through 2012. Pancreatic cancer and colon, rectum and anus cancer were the fifth and sixth leading causes of cancer death in both male and female, respectively. Nervous system tumor was the eight leading cause of cancer death, whereas osteosarcoma was the tenth. Prostate cancer was the ninth leading cause of cancer death in men. The mortality of cancer was significantly higher in the elderly group than in any other age group. The most common causes of cancer death in adolescents and young adults were leukemia, nervous system tumor and osteosarcoma. The top five of potential years of life lost (PYLL) were liver cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer and leukemia. The top five of average years of life lost (AYLL) were leukemia, nervous system tumor, liver cancer, breast cancer and osteosarcoma. Conclusion: Cancer has been the major cause of death in residents of Rugao city. The mortality of cancer was higher in the male than in the female. Cancer mortality was also higher in the elderly group than in any other age group. Pancreatic cancer was the fifth leading cause of cancer death. Researchers should raise awareness of cancer prevention in the residents. Treatment and prevention of pancreatic cancer, nervous system tumor and osteosarcoma should be emphasized in the prevention of the most common types of cancer. Besides, researchers should focus on early diagnosis, early treatment of cancer and screening of high-risk groups to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.

Key words: Cancer, Mortality rate, Potential years of life lost, Average years of life lost