Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Connecticut, accounting for about one-fourth of all deaths to residents each year.  While the causes of many cancers remain elusive, various behavioral risk factors have been shown to increase the chance of developing certain cancers.  This report concentrates on the behaviors measured on the Connecticut Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) that relate to cancer.   The BRFSS is a telephone survey of adults coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and conducted in all 50 states.  Data from 4,088 interviews conducted in Connecticut in 1996 and 1997 were analyzed for this report.  In addition, relevant data from Connecticut students in grades 9-12 from the 1997 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), also coordinated by CDC, are included.

Click this link to download the report (MS Word, 2.8MB)