A comparison of cancer mortality rates in South Africa with those in other countries.

Standardized mortality rates for eight major types of cancer (as well as for all types of cancer considered together) in four South African population groups are compared with each other and with rates in selected countries. Wide differences among the races in South Africa are displayed, and several rates are shown to parallel those in other population groups abroad. This lends support to the belief that socio-economic factors (rather than solely genetic factors) play the major role in cancer causation.