To describe the epidemiology of cancer in the United States-risk factors, trends, and recent patterns of disparities in cancer incidence, mortality, and survival.,Published articles, research reports and monographs, book chapters, government publications, and machine-readable public-use data files.,The discipline of cancer epidemiology has greatly increased our understanding of cancer risk, morbidity and mortality, survival, trends over time, and disparities in cancer treatment and outcomes.,Nursing can use epidemiologic tools to reduce the suffering and death caused by cancer and improve the quality of life for cancer survivors.