Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Bermuda, and the island has a higher cancer mortality rate when compared to the United States.

This is one of the disturbing findings of the 2004 Cancer in Bermuda Study, the results of which were released at the launch of the National Health Promotion Strategy.

The co-author of the study, Dr. Frederic Dellaire said the study compared the incidence of cancer in Bermuda and in the United States.

Dr. Dellaire said Bermuda had a 45 percent higher mortality rate for all cancer "sites" than the US and the mortality for prostrate cancer was 2.65 times higher in Bermuda despite a comparable incidence rate.

Dr. Dellaire cautioned: "The differences between the two countries must be viewed with caution.

"Nevertheless, it seemed likely that the mortality rate for prostrate cancer, pancreas cancer, ovarian cancer and breast cancer were higher in Bermuda."

Some other key findings of the report were:

1. 25 percent of all deaths in Bermuda were attributed to cancer in 2005.

2. Cancer rates in white women were found to be higher in Bermuda.

3. In whites, the specific cancer types that had a higher rate in Bermuda when compared to the United States included; oral cavity cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer (in females) and breast cancer.

4. In blacks, the specific cancer types that had a higher rate in Bermuda when compared to the United States included: oral cavity cancer (in males), and ovarian cancer.

5. Lung and colorectal cancers had lower rates in blacks from Bermuda when compared to blacks from the US.

6. Recognised risk factors for oral cavity cancer are tobacco use, alcohol consumption and a diet poor in fruits and vegetables.

7. The most common types of cancer in Bermuda include (in descending order) prostate, breast, colon and rectum, lung and bronchus, and skin.

On the positive said Bermuda's women reported good screening practices.

In 2006 84 percent of women over 35 reported having had a mammogram, and 72 percent had had it in the previous year.

Similarly, 96 percent of women reported having had a Pap test, and 74 percent confirmed they had a Pap test the previous year.

Men, as the trend is globally, are slightly less proactive, but the 2006 self-reports are positive, with 75 percent of men over 40 saying they'd had a PSA test (56 percent in the previous year); and 77 percent of men over 40 said they'd had a digital rectal exam (DRE), with 60 percent in the previous year.