Who We Serve
The University of Illinois Cancer Center serves patients across Cook County, including the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs.
This area is home to 5.1 million people – more than 40% of Illinois’ population. Cook County is racially and ethnically diverse — 27% Hispanic, 22% African American and 8% Asian (non-Hispanic) — and many areas and populations are designated as Medically Underserved by the federal government.
The Cancer Center works directly with these communities to prevent cancer, advance treatments and improve understanding of how both biology and social factors contribute to cancer disparities.
Breast, prostate, lung and colorectal cancers are the most commonly diagnosed cancers and the leading causes of cancer death in Cook County. Black residents have higher rates of prostate, lung, and colorectal cancer diagnoses as compared to Whites, and higher rates of death at all four sites. Men have higher rates of lung and colorectal cancer diagnoses and deaths as compared to women.
