Delaware State Press Releases, April 20

NEWS FEED

DPH Releases Latest Cancer Incidence and Mortality Trends in Delaware
Date Posted: April 20, 2026

Governor Meyer Nominates Robert Storch to be Delaware’s First Inspector General
Date Posted: April 20, 2026

The Delaware Department of Human Resources Hosts Its Second Statewide Career Fair of 2026 in Ongoing Hiring Initiative
Date Posted: April 20, 2026

DOJ secures lengthy sentence in child abuse case
Date Posted: April 20, 2026

DNREC Revises 2026-2027 Black Sea Bass Recreational Fishing Regulations for Compliance With Fishery Management Plan
Date Posted: April 20, 2026

Harrington Poultry Farm Fire
Date Posted: April 16, 2026

Delaware Century Farm Program adds three new families, celebrates First State’s agricultural heritage
Date Posted: April 16, 2026

DSHA Enhances, Rebrands Single-Family Mortgage Lending Products
Date Posted: April 16, 2026

Three schools earn Delaware Purple Star recognition
Date Posted: April 16, 2026

Unveiling of New State Historical Marker Honoring Fort Delaware
Date Posted: April 16, 2026

State Auditor Lydia York Issues Audit of Federal Awards to State of Delaware
Date Posted: April 16, 2026

Celebrate 2026 Earth Day with Hikes and Volunteer Events at Delaware State Parks
Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Four Delaware Police Agencies Earn State Accreditation
Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay Holds Statewide Student Art Competition
Date Posted: April 15, 2026

DSB Launches Delaware Opportunity Zone 2.0 Mapping Tool
Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Delaware Forest Service Re-Launches Federal Firefighter Property Program to Support Local Fire Departments
Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Delaware EARNS Savers Reach $10 Million in Retirement Assets
Date Posted: April 14, 2026

Delaware Division of Child Support Services Launches Modernized New Hire Reporting Website
Date Posted: April 14, 2026

HCA and Archaeological Society of Delaware Announce Presenters, Delmarva Archaeology & History Symposium
Date Posted: April 14, 2026

Delaware Healthy Mother & Infant Consortium Celebrates 20th Anniversary During Annual Summit
Date Posted: April 14, 2026

EPA, DDA, Renew Pledge to First State Farming, Environmental Health with Memorandum of Understanding
Date Posted: April 14, 2026

Students named 2026 Secretary of Education Scholars
Date Posted: April 14, 2026

DNREC-Sponsored Water Family Fest and Native Plant Sale to be Held on Saturday, May 2
Date Posted: April 14, 2026

Governor Meyer Announces Application Opening for Student Member of State Board Of Education
Date Posted: April 13, 2026

DNREC to Hold Training at Cape Henlopen for Volunteer Beach-nesting Bird Monitors Saturday, May 2
Date Posted: April 13, 2026

Mezzanine Gallery presents Mike McSorley’s “Out of the Ordinary”
Date Posted: April 10, 2026

DMV Scam Alert
Date Posted: April 9, 2026

John Dickinson and the Defense of Delaware at the Archives’ April First Saturday Program
Date Posted: April 9, 2026

DNREC Announces Two New Superintendents for Delaware State Parks
Date Posted: April 9, 2026

EDGE 2.0 Finalists and Pitch Competition Dates Announced
Date Posted: April 8, 2026

Governor Meyer, DSPC, and Enstructure Announce Permit Issuance for Delaware Container Terminal
Date Posted: April 8, 2026

Delaware’s 2025 Wildlife Action Plan Gets U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Approval
Date Posted: April 8, 2026

Dover House Fire
Date Posted: April 8, 2026

Governor Meyer Appoints Brenda Wise to DEFAC
Date Posted: April 7, 2026

DNREC to Conduct Statewide Assessment of Wastewater Infrastructure in Manufactured Home Communities
Date Posted: April 7, 2026

Governor Meyer Nominates Bob Osmond as Chief Information Officer
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

Houston House Fire
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

Upcoming Electricity Rate Increase Adds to Cost Increases for Delmarva Customers
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

AG Jennings sues Trump to block election interference
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

Slow Down and Stay Focused: OHS Kicks Off Spring BRAKE and Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

AG Jennings wins appeals court ruling against HUD’s attempts to restrict housing-assistance programs
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

Volunteers Sought to Join DNREC in Cleaning Up Concord Pond near Seaford for Earth Month
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

Wilmington DMV Appointments Update
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

DMV on the Go for 2026
Date Posted: April 2, 2026

Historical and Cultural Affairs Presents Arts & Education Programs for the Month of April
Date Posted: April 1, 2026

Governor Meyer Names Updated Delaware Interfaith Council
Date Posted: April 1, 2026

Smyrna State Service Center Relocating to New Location on DHCI Campus
Date Posted: March 31, 2026

Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs Announces Deputy Director and PIO Appointments
Date Posted: March 31, 2026

Los Líderes De Delaware Instan a Los Residentes a Conocer Sus Derechos
Date Posted: March 31, 2026

Delaware Leaders Encourage Residents to Know Their Rights
Date Posted: March 31, 2026

Delaware Releases Strategic Framework for Contaminants of Emerging Concern and First PFAS Implementation Plan
Date Posted: March 31, 2026

Turkey Hunting Season to Offer an Extra Day; Season Opens April 4 and 5 with Youth and Non-ambulatory Hunts
Date Posted: March 31, 2026

H.B. du Pont Middle School Students Crowned 2026 Solar Racer Champions
Date Posted: March 30, 2026

Lewes Fire
Date Posted: March 30, 2026

Delaware Veterans Connect, Create, and Showcase Their Work Through Free Statewide Art Classes
Date Posted: March 30, 2026

Take A Kid Fishing! Program Returns for Special Spring Break Dates
Date Posted: March 30, 2026

Electronic Red-Light Safety Program Adds 15 Locations
Date Posted: March 27, 2026

Court rules with State, clears way for offshore wind substation critical to Delaware’s energy future
Date Posted: March 27, 2026

Wilmington Fire
Date Posted: March 26, 2026

Governor Matt Meyer Expands Delaware LGBTQ+ Commission
Date Posted: March 26, 2026

Emergency Sirens Test on Tuesday, April 7
Date Posted: March 25, 2026

Governor Matt Meyer Announces Major Broadband Milestone for Delaware
Date Posted: March 25, 2026

Seventeen Officers Complete POST Instructor Course
Date Posted: March 25, 2026

Visit Delaware Releases Updated Travel Guide
Date Posted: March 24, 2026

Governor Meyer Orders Lowering of Flags to Honor Former State Senator Nancy Cook
Date Posted: March 23, 2026

DOJ announces arrest of Delmar officer in stalking, sexual contact investigations
Date Posted: March 23, 2026

Delaware Division of the Arts Announces 15th Annual State Employee Art Exhibition Winners
Date Posted: March 23, 2026

DE250 Invites Public to “Celebrate Delaware” at Hotel Du Pont
Date Posted: March 23, 2026

DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center to Reopen April 1
Date Posted: March 23, 2026

DOJ secures life sentences, additional time for two men involved in the murder of Shiheem Durham
Date Posted: March 23, 2026

Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay Sits Down with Small Business Leaders Across the State
Date Posted: March 23, 2026

DSHA kicks off healthy heart programming for residents
Date Posted: March 20, 2026

Potassium Iodide Distribution on April 2 in Middletown
Date Posted: March 20, 2026

Felton Fire
Date Posted: March 20, 2026

Results of OHS’ St. Patrick’s Day Weekend DUI Checkpoint and Sober Rides Program
Date Posted: March 20, 2026

Delaware Senators Move One Step Closer to Protecting Civil Rights for Individuals with Disabilities
Date Posted: March 20, 2026

BASSE Charter to close in June
Date Posted: March 20, 2026

Delaware Launches New Statewide AI Training for State Employees
Date Posted: March 19, 2026

DNREC’s Mosquito Control Section Set to Spray Woodland Pool Habitats
Date Posted: March 17, 2026

DNREC, DEMA to Sponsor Delaware Flood Awareness Week March 16 to 20
Date Posted: March 16, 2026

Public Advocate Names New Deputy and Key Staff to Strengthen Consumer Advocacy
Date Posted: March 16, 2026

DOJ secures convictions in the murder of Marell Lowe
Date Posted: March 16, 2026

Controlled Burn to be Scheduled at Brandywine Creek State Park
Date Posted: March 16, 2026

Governor Meyer Celebrates 125 Years of Delaware Libraries
Date Posted: March 13, 2026

Bring Your Family History to Life at the Archives’ Community Digitization Days
Date Posted: March 13, 2026

Registration Now Open for DNREC-Sponsored Christina River Watershed Cleanup
Date Posted: March 13, 2026

Delaware accelerates statewide early literacy strategy with more than $8m to strengthen classroom reading instruction
Date Posted: March 12, 2026

Upstate Trout Season to Open in New Castle County Streams with Youth-Only Day Set for April 4
Date Posted: March 12, 2026

Delaware Division of the Arts Seeks Public Input in New Statewide Strategic Planning Process
Date Posted: March 11, 2026

Delaware Bay Barge Fire Declared Under Control
Date Posted: March 11, 2026

DNREC Announces 2025-‘26 Deer Harvest Totals, Launches New Interactive Game Harvest Dashboard
Date Posted: March 11, 2026

Suspicious Package Prompts Investigation at Dover DMV
Date Posted: March 10, 2026

Delaware Bay Barge Fire
Date Posted: March 10, 2026

Property Reassessment & Your Insurance: What Really Drives Premium Costs
Date Posted: March 10, 2026

Amid Hints of Spring, DNREC Reminds Delawareans of Yard Waste Options, Including Beneficial Reuse
Date Posted: March 10, 2026

Capitol Police Seeks Public Comment on Assessment
Date Posted: March 9, 2026

Governor Matt Meyer Returns from India Trade Mission with New Investment and Innovation Opportunities
Date Posted: March 9, 2026

DNREC Now Soliciting Community Water Quality Improvement Grant Project Proposals
Date Posted: March 9, 2026

Two Cape Henlopen Trails to Close for Repairs
Date Posted: March 6, 2026

DelDOT Accepting Applications for TAP Community Projects
Date Posted: March 6, 2026

NEWS FEED

DPH Releases Latest Cancer Incidence and Mortality Trends in Delaware
Date Posted: April 20, 2026

Governor Meyer Nominates Robert Storch to be Delaware’s First Inspector General
Date Posted: April 20, 2026

The Delaware Department of Human Resources Hosts Its Second Statewide Career Fair of 2026 in Ongoing Hiring Initiative
Date Posted: April 20, 2026

DOJ secures lengthy sentence in child abuse case
Date Posted: April 20, 2026

DNREC Revises 2026-2027 Black Sea Bass Recreational Fishing Regulations for Compliance With Fishery Management Plan
Date Posted: April 20, 2026

Harrington Poultry Farm Fire
Date Posted: April 16, 2026

Delaware Century Farm Program adds three new families, celebrates First State’s agricultural heritage
Date Posted: April 16, 2026

DSHA Enhances, Rebrands Single-Family Mortgage Lending Products
Date Posted: April 16, 2026

Three schools earn Delaware Purple Star recognition
Date Posted: April 16, 2026

Unveiling of New State Historical Marker Honoring Fort Delaware
Date Posted: April 16, 2026

State Auditor Lydia York Issues Audit of Federal Awards to State of Delaware
Date Posted: April 16, 2026

Celebrate 2026 Earth Day with Hikes and Volunteer Events at Delaware State Parks
Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Four Delaware Police Agencies Earn State Accreditation
Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay Holds Statewide Student Art Competition
Date Posted: April 15, 2026

DSB Launches Delaware Opportunity Zone 2.0 Mapping Tool
Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Delaware Forest Service Re-Launches Federal Firefighter Property Program to Support Local Fire Departments
Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Delaware EARNS Savers Reach $10 Million in Retirement Assets
Date Posted: April 14, 2026

Delaware Division of Child Support Services Launches Modernized New Hire Reporting Website
Date Posted: April 14, 2026

HCA and Archaeological Society of Delaware Announce Presenters, Delmarva Archaeology & History Symposium
Date Posted: April 14, 2026

Delaware Healthy Mother & Infant Consortium Celebrates 20th Anniversary During Annual Summit
Date Posted: April 14, 2026

EPA, DDA, Renew Pledge to First State Farming, Environmental Health with Memorandum of Understanding
Date Posted: April 14, 2026

Students named 2026 Secretary of Education Scholars
Date Posted: April 14, 2026

DNREC-Sponsored Water Family Fest and Native Plant Sale to be Held on Saturday, May 2
Date Posted: April 14, 2026

Governor Meyer Announces Application Opening for Student Member of State Board Of Education
Date Posted: April 13, 2026

DNREC to Hold Training at Cape Henlopen for Volunteer Beach-nesting Bird Monitors Saturday, May 2
Date Posted: April 13, 2026

Mezzanine Gallery presents Mike McSorley’s “Out of the Ordinary”
Date Posted: April 10, 2026

DMV Scam Alert
Date Posted: April 9, 2026

John Dickinson and the Defense of Delaware at the Archives’ April First Saturday Program
Date Posted: April 9, 2026

DNREC Announces Two New Superintendents for Delaware State Parks
Date Posted: April 9, 2026

EDGE 2.0 Finalists and Pitch Competition Dates Announced
Date Posted: April 8, 2026

Governor Meyer, DSPC, and Enstructure Announce Permit Issuance for Delaware Container Terminal
Date Posted: April 8, 2026

Delaware’s 2025 Wildlife Action Plan Gets U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Approval
Date Posted: April 8, 2026

Dover House Fire
Date Posted: April 8, 2026

Governor Meyer Appoints Brenda Wise to DEFAC
Date Posted: April 7, 2026

DNREC to Conduct Statewide Assessment of Wastewater Infrastructure in Manufactured Home Communities
Date Posted: April 7, 2026

Governor Meyer Nominates Bob Osmond as Chief Information Officer
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

Houston House Fire
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

Upcoming Electricity Rate Increase Adds to Cost Increases for Delmarva Customers
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

AG Jennings sues Trump to block election interference
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

Slow Down and Stay Focused: OHS Kicks Off Spring BRAKE and Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

AG Jennings wins appeals court ruling against HUD’s attempts to restrict housing-assistance programs
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

Volunteers Sought to Join DNREC in Cleaning Up Concord Pond near Seaford for Earth Month
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

Wilmington DMV Appointments Update
Date Posted: April 6, 2026

DMV on the Go for 2026
Date Posted: April 2, 2026

Historical and Cultural Affairs Presents Arts & Education Programs for the Month of April
Date Posted: April 1, 2026

Governor Meyer Names Updated Delaware Interfaith Council
Date Posted: April 1, 2026

Smyrna State Service Center Relocating to New Location on DHCI Campus
Date Posted: March 31, 2026

Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs Announces Deputy Director and PIO Appointments
Date Posted: March 31, 2026

Los Líderes De Delaware Instan a Los Residentes a Conocer Sus Derechos
Date Posted: March 31, 2026

Delaware Leaders Encourage Residents to Know Their Rights
Date Posted: March 31, 2026

Delaware Releases Strategic Framework for Contaminants of Emerging Concern and First PFAS Implementation Plan
Date Posted: March 31, 2026

Turkey Hunting Season to Offer an Extra Day; Season Opens April 4 and 5 with Youth and Non-ambulatory Hunts
Date Posted: March 31, 2026

H.B. du Pont Middle School Students Crowned 2026 Solar Racer Champions
Date Posted: March 30, 2026

Lewes Fire
Date Posted: March 30, 2026

Delaware Veterans Connect, Create, and Showcase Their Work Through Free Statewide Art Classes
Date Posted: March 30, 2026

Take A Kid Fishing! Program Returns for Special Spring Break Dates
Date Posted: March 30, 2026

Electronic Red-Light Safety Program Adds 15 Locations
Date Posted: March 27, 2026

Court rules with State, clears way for offshore wind substation critical to Delaware’s energy future
Date Posted: March 27, 2026

Wilmington Fire
Date Posted: March 26, 2026

Governor Matt Meyer Expands Delaware LGBTQ+ Commission
Date Posted: March 26, 2026

Emergency Sirens Test on Tuesday, April 7
Date Posted: March 25, 2026

Governor Matt Meyer Announces Major Broadband Milestone for Delaware
Date Posted: March 25, 2026

Seventeen Officers Complete POST Instructor Course
Date Posted: March 25, 2026

Visit Delaware Releases Updated Travel Guide
Date Posted: March 24, 2026

Governor Meyer Orders Lowering of Flags to Honor Former State Senator Nancy Cook
Date Posted: March 23, 2026

DOJ announces arrest of Delmar officer in stalking, sexual contact investigations
Date Posted: March 23, 2026

Delaware Division of the Arts Announces 15th Annual State Employee Art Exhibition Winners
Date Posted: March 23, 2026

DE250 Invites Public to “Celebrate Delaware” at Hotel Du Pont
Date Posted: March 23, 2026

DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center to Reopen April 1
Date Posted: March 23, 2026

DOJ secures life sentences, additional time for two men involved in the murder of Shiheem Durham
Date Posted: March 23, 2026

Lt. Governor Kyle Evans Gay Sits Down with Small Business Leaders Across the State
Date Posted: March 23, 2026

DSHA kicks off healthy heart programming for residents
Date Posted: March 20, 2026

Potassium Iodide Distribution on April 2 in Middletown
Date Posted: March 20, 2026

Felton Fire
Date Posted: March 20, 2026

Results of OHS’ St. Patrick’s Day Weekend DUI Checkpoint and Sober Rides Program
Date Posted: March 20, 2026

Delaware Senators Move One Step Closer to Protecting Civil Rights for Individuals with Disabilities
Date Posted: March 20, 2026

BASSE Charter to close in June
Date Posted: March 20, 2026

Delaware Launches New Statewide AI Training for State Employees
Date Posted: March 19, 2026

DNREC’s Mosquito Control Section Set to Spray Woodland Pool Habitats
Date Posted: March 17, 2026

DNREC, DEMA to Sponsor Delaware Flood Awareness Week March 16 to 20
Date Posted: March 16, 2026

Public Advocate Names New Deputy and Key Staff to Strengthen Consumer Advocacy
Date Posted: March 16, 2026

DOJ secures convictions in the murder of Marell Lowe
Date Posted: March 16, 2026

Controlled Burn to be Scheduled at Brandywine Creek State Park
Date Posted: March 16, 2026

Governor Meyer Celebrates 125 Years of Delaware Libraries
Date Posted: March 13, 2026

Bring Your Family History to Life at the Archives’ Community Digitization Days
Date Posted: March 13, 2026

Registration Now Open for DNREC-Sponsored Christina River Watershed Cleanup
Date Posted: March 13, 2026

Delaware accelerates statewide early literacy strategy with more than $8m to strengthen classroom reading instruction
Date Posted: March 12, 2026

Upstate Trout Season to Open in New Castle County Streams with Youth-Only Day Set for April 4
Date Posted: March 12, 2026

Delaware Division of the Arts Seeks Public Input in New Statewide Strategic Planning Process
Date Posted: March 11, 2026

Delaware Bay Barge Fire Declared Under Control
Date Posted: March 11, 2026

DNREC Announces 2025-‘26 Deer Harvest Totals, Launches New Interactive Game Harvest Dashboard
Date Posted: March 11, 2026

Suspicious Package Prompts Investigation at Dover DMV
Date Posted: March 10, 2026

Delaware Bay Barge Fire
Date Posted: March 10, 2026

Property Reassessment & Your Insurance: What Really Drives Premium Costs
Date Posted: March 10, 2026

Amid Hints of Spring, DNREC Reminds Delawareans of Yard Waste Options, Including Beneficial Reuse
Date Posted: March 10, 2026

Capitol Police Seeks Public Comment on Assessment
Date Posted: March 9, 2026

Governor Matt Meyer Returns from India Trade Mission with New Investment and Innovation Opportunities
Date Posted: March 9, 2026

DNREC Now Soliciting Community Water Quality Improvement Grant Project Proposals
Date Posted: March 9, 2026

Two Cape Henlopen Trails to Close for Repairs
Date Posted: March 6, 2026

DelDOT Accepting Applications for TAP Community Projects
Date Posted: March 6, 2026

Delaware News

Flag Status - FULL STAFF

Listen

Note: References to the key findings available at the link below:
https://publichealthalerts.delaware.gov/dph-releases-latest-cancer-incidence-and-mortality-trends-in-delaware/

DOVER, Del. (April 20, 2026) – Cancer mortality rates in Delaware continue to decline, according to new data released by the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH). Between 2008 and 2022, cancer mortality rates decreased by an average of 1.5% per year in both Delaware and the United States.

DPH today presented its latest report, Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Delaware, 2018–2022, to the Delaware Cancer Consortium (DCC), which advises the Governor and General Assembly on cancer-related policy. The report includes cancer incidence and mortality data for 2018–2022, along with trends dating back to 2008.

“Our state’s declining cancer mortality rate shows that prevention and early detection efforts are making a real difference,” said Governor Matt Meyer. “This progress reflects the continued work of the Delaware Cancer Consortium and the Division of Public Health to improve outcomes for Delawareans.”

DPH also released detailed data tables covering the 23 most common cancer types, as well as a supplemental report, Small Area-Level Cancer Incidence in Delaware, 2018–2022, which includes census tract-level maps.

“While mortality rates are declining, our work is far from over,” said DPH Director Steven Blessing. “We will continue using data to guide prevention, strengthen community partnerships, and improve access to screening and care.”

Key Findings
• The most commonly diagnosed cancers in Delaware are female breast, prostate, lung and bronchus, and colorectal cancer.
• The leading causes of cancer death are lung and bronchus, female breast, prostate, colorectal and pancreatic cancer.
• Cancer mortality rates declined among non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black males between 2008 and 2022, while rates remained stable for females and Hispanic populations.
• Delaware ranks 15th nationally for cancer mortality, a significant improvement from the 1990s, when it ranked second.
• Delaware’s overall cancer incidence rate remains higher than the national average, ranking 14th in the country.
• Delaware’s prostate cancer mortality rate is similar to the U.S., while colorectal cancer mortality is lower.
• Breast and lung cancer mortality rates in Delaware remain higher than the U.S.
• Non-Hispanic Black Delawareans experience disproportionately higher mortality rates for breast and prostate cancers compared to non-Hispanic White residents.

Ongoing Prevention and Support
DPH’s Bureau of Cancer Prevention and Control and the DCC use these data to guide prevention efforts, including cancer screening, tobacco cessation, and obesity prevention programs.

Delaware residents can learn more about cancer prevention, screening, and treatment at HealthyDelaware.org/Individuals or by calling the Delaware Comprehensive Cancer Control Program at 302-744-1040.

The Screening for Life program provides free cancer screenings for eligible residents, including mammograms, Pap and HPV tests, and screenings for prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer.

Residents who want help quitting smoking or vaping can contact the Delaware Quitline at 1-866-409-1858 or visit QuitSupport.com. Teens can text VAPEFREE to 873373 for support.

#

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), a division of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, is a nationally accredited public health agency recognized by the Public Health Accreditation Board for its outstanding dedication to driving change through innovation. DPH is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind, or speech-disabled can contact DPH by first dialing 711 using specialized devices (i.e., TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free; to learn more about how it works, visit delawarerelay.com.

Print

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.

Listen

Note: References to the key findings available at the link below:
https://publichealthalerts.delaware.gov/dph-releases-latest-cancer-incidence-and-mortality-trends-in-delaware/

DOVER, Del. (April 20, 2026) – Cancer mortality rates in Delaware continue to decline, according to new data released by the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH). Between 2008 and 2022, cancer mortality rates decreased by an average of 1.5% per year in both Delaware and the United States.

DPH today presented its latest report, Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Delaware, 2018–2022, to the Delaware Cancer Consortium (DCC), which advises the Governor and General Assembly on cancer-related policy. The report includes cancer incidence and mortality data for 2018–2022, along with trends dating back to 2008.

“Our state’s declining cancer mortality rate shows that prevention and early detection efforts are making a real difference,” said Governor Matt Meyer. “This progress reflects the continued work of the Delaware Cancer Consortium and the Division of Public Health to improve outcomes for Delawareans.”

DPH also released detailed data tables covering the 23 most common cancer types, as well as a supplemental report, Small Area-Level Cancer Incidence in Delaware, 2018–2022, which includes census tract-level maps.

“While mortality rates are declining, our work is far from over,” said DPH Director Steven Blessing. “We will continue using data to guide prevention, strengthen community partnerships, and improve access to screening and care.”

Key Findings
• The most commonly diagnosed cancers in Delaware are female breast, prostate, lung and bronchus, and colorectal cancer.
• The leading causes of cancer death are lung and bronchus, female breast, prostate, colorectal and pancreatic cancer.
• Cancer mortality rates declined among non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black males between 2008 and 2022, while rates remained stable for females and Hispanic populations.
• Delaware ranks 15th nationally for cancer mortality, a significant improvement from the 1990s, when it ranked second.
• Delaware’s overall cancer incidence rate remains higher than the national average, ranking 14th in the country.
• Delaware’s prostate cancer mortality rate is similar to the U.S., while colorectal cancer mortality is lower.
• Breast and lung cancer mortality rates in Delaware remain higher than the U.S.
• Non-Hispanic Black Delawareans experience disproportionately higher mortality rates for breast and prostate cancers compared to non-Hispanic White residents.

Ongoing Prevention and Support
DPH’s Bureau of Cancer Prevention and Control and the DCC use these data to guide prevention efforts, including cancer screening, tobacco cessation, and obesity prevention programs.

Delaware residents can learn more about cancer prevention, screening, and treatment at HealthyDelaware.org/Individuals or by calling the Delaware Comprehensive Cancer Control Program at 302-744-1040.

The Screening for Life program provides free cancer screenings for eligible residents, including mammograms, Pap and HPV tests, and screenings for prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer.

Residents who want help quitting smoking or vaping can contact the Delaware Quitline at 1-866-409-1858 or visit QuitSupport.com. Teens can text VAPEFREE to 873373 for support.

#

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), a division of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, is a nationally accredited public health agency recognized by the Public Health Accreditation Board for its outstanding dedication to driving change through innovation. DPH is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind, or speech-disabled can contact DPH by first dialing 711 using specialized devices (i.e., TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free; to learn more about how it works, visit delawarerelay.com.

Print

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.