A total of 1.3 million cancer cases from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program in the United States were analyzed. A total of 265 female & 1307 male suicides were enumerated. The high risk patient was male, with head & neck cancer or myeloma, advanced disease, little social or cultural support, & limited treatment options. Oncologists & allied health professionals should be aware of the potential for suicide in cancer patients & their associated risk factors. (43 refs.)