Incidents of cancer in Navarro County, from 2001 – 2005, ran slightly higher than the state’s average.  According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, over a five year period,  1,110 total cancer cases were reported in Navarro County.  Of those, 943 cases were diagnosed in Whites, 153 in Blacks and 42 in Hispanics.  These cases represent 2.2% of the population of the county.  The state of Texas’ incident rate is 1.8% of the population, with 429,455 cases reported.  

Freestone County’s cancer rates

came in slightly higher than Navarro, at 2.7% percent, having reported 516 cases in the same five-year period.  Limestone County reported 643 cases or 2.83%, while Anderson County – 1,316 cases or 2.3%.   Interestingly, the counties to the north with larger, urban populations have lower incidence rates of cancer.  Ellis County reported 2,307 cases – 1.66% of the population, while Dallas County had 41,369 cases – 1.76%.

Other counties with coal-fired electric generation plants also came in lower than Navarro County’s current statistics.  Rusk County, which is home to TXU’s Martin Lake plant reported 1,054 incidences of cancer – 2.18% of its population, while Titus County reported 567 cases or 1.9%.  The Monticello power plant, located near Mt. Pleasant, is located in Titus County.   

2004 – Mortality Cancer Death Rates

Navarro – 119            Male: 57  Female: 62

Freestone – 52 Male: 29  Female:  23

Limestone – 49 Male: 31 Female: 18

Anderson – 165  Male: 109  Female – 56

Ellis – 227  Male: 112  Female – 115

Dallas – 3,026  Male:  1,536  Female – 1,490

(Cancer incidence data have been provided by the Texas Cancer Registry, Cancer Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, Texas Department of State Health Services, 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, Texas, 78756 , http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/tcr/default.shtm , or (512) 458-7523.) 

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