Breast Cancer Incidence in Cape Cod Census Block Groups 1982 - 1994

Statistical significance is a useful guideline in interpreting research findings because it calculates the likelihood that results are due to chance alone. As census block groups often have small populations, an SIR higher (or lower) than 100 is likely to be the result of chance variation rather than to actual elevated (or lowered) cancer incidence.

The following graphic shows the incidence of breast cancer in census block groups on Cape Cod 1982–94