Interactive map reveals America's cancer hotspots - as study says half of deaths are caused by bad habits

An official US map reveals America's biggest cancer hotspots, showing how swathes of the South and Midwest are in the red.

It comes after a major study earlier this week found almost half of US cancer deaths can be attributed to six decisions people make in their everyday life.

The map - based on the latest data from the CDC - show the cancer mortality rate is highest in Mississippi at 985 deaths per 100,000 people.

Rounding out the top five are all southern states - where obesity, smoking and alcohol rates are all higher than the US average and healthcare is patchier.

The figures represent mortality from 2016 to 2020, the latest data available. 

Mississippi state's health department has suggested its rate is so high due to a lack of preventative screenings, particularly in rural areas, along with a statewide lack of exercise. 

West Virginia came in second place, with 966.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, which could be due to high obesity rates. 

Southern states rounded out the top five, including Kentucky with 947.2 cases per 100,000, Alabama with 941.7, and Tennessee with 916.2.

Meanwhile, Hawaii had the lowest cancer death incidence, with 573.9 cases per 100,000 residents. 

Experts have noted this could be due to low rates of cancer-causing risk factors like obesity and smoking. 

The findings come after a bombshell American Cancer Society report found that nearly half of all US cancer deaths could be preventable, as they are linked to lifestyle factors such as smoking, eating red meat, being physically inactive, and getting too much sun. 

The National Cancer Institute estimates that nearly 2million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and over 600,000 will die. 

Lung and bronchus cancer are predicted to cause the most deaths - 125,000 - followed closely by colorectal cancer, which has surged in young Americans. 

According to the NCI's data, the majority of cancer deaths in Mississippi are due to lung and bronchus cancer, with lung cancer deaths 30 percent higher than the national average. 

According to tobacco prevention charity Truth Initiative, about 17 percent of adults in Mississippi smoke, compared to 14 percent nationally. 

Additionally, a report from the Mississippi State Department of Health stated that 'our high rates of cancer and cancer deaths are caused partly by a lack of regular screening tests for cancer, and partly by lifestyle factors like diet and physical activity.'

Health department data found, for instance, that Mississippi is the fifth most obese state. 

Experts believe that excess fat in the body alters how the body regulates hormones and inflammation, which can lead to increased cancer risk.

West Virginia came in second place, which could be due to high smoking rates and a lack of preventative screening.

According to the West Virginia Department of Health, over one in four adults smokes cigarettes every day or some days, and just over half tries quitting in the last year - the lowest in the nation. 

And recent CDC data found that the Mountain state had the country's highest obesity rate, as 41 percent of adults had a BMI over 30.  

And Kentucky had the third highest rate of cancer deaths, which experts believe could be due to the state having the most lung cancer cases in the nation and the country's highest smoking rate.   

Meanwhile, the NCI found that Hawaii had the fewest cancer deaths between 2016 and 2020, with 573.9 per 100,000 residents. 

This could be due to the Aloha state boasting the nation's highest life expectancy rate at 80.7 years on average, according to the CDC.

A 2022 study from the Commonwealth Fund found that Hawaii ranked the highest of all 50 states in terms of state health care system performance, suggesting more screenings to catch the disease early. 

As of 2022, Hawaii also had the second lowest obesity rate behind Colorado. 

California, New York, Minnesota, and Connecticut rounded out the bottom five results.