The degree of urbanization in each state interferes in cancer prognosis, since the more urbanized space, greater access to health care. The objective of this study is to analyze trends in mortality from breast cancer, prostate and cervix for selected locations, according to the degree of urbanization between 1980 and 2009. Therefore, we calculated mortality rates, standardized to the world population, breast cancer, prostate and cervix for the Brazilian states selected by the degree of urbanization and their respective capitals in the years studied. There was no difference in the evolution of mortality rates for breast cancer and prostate cancer among the states and capitals more urbanized and less urbanized, because in both cases was increasing. In the more urbanized, the average rate was higher than in less urbanized, indicating greater number of deaths in these regions, and an inverse relationship was observed for cancer of the cervix. It is observed that the gradual increase in this rate increases the need for specific actions such as those contained in the Pact for Life, and adds information about the peculiarities of the dynamics of organizational diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the country.
breast neoplasms; prostatic neoplasms; uterine cervical neoplasms; epidemiology; time series studies