Abstract
Background. Age‐adjusted rates and statistical measures used to assess these rates are commonly used in cancer research to monitor progress against this disease. Trends in age‐adjusted rates and related summary statistics may depend on the standard population used for age adjustment. Hence, knowledge of how the selected standard population influences such rates is essential for analysis and interpretation of the results. Methods. The current paper evaluates age‐specific and age‐adjusted trends for the three leading causes of cancer mortality in the United States: lung and prostate cancers for males, and lung and breast cancers for females. Results, Conclusions. The analysis shows that the choice of the standard population for age adjustment of the rates can influence one's perception of the progress being made against cancer.