Problems of Cancer Mapping

Abstract

Mapping is the basic approach of medical geography, disease ecology, and spatial epidemiology. The cartographic representation of both illness and death is essential, because one has to know the exact location as well as the amount. Therefore the spatial analysis of areal patterns of mortality and/or morbidity is a starting point for further investigation. Disease mapping — including cancer mapping — involves a series of options with regard to the choice of scale and base map, the number and length of classes, and the data to be represented. The first option to be considered is the map projection. For the purpose of the representation of surface areas, equal-area projections are best suited to avoid deformations (as is the case, e.g., for equidistant projections). Map projection is important for representations at a small scale, for example world maps or maps on the scale of a continent. However, when operating at a large scale (countries, regions, or even smaller administrative units), this choice is not a problem.