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An annual report on cancer statistics in the United States finds that deaths from the
four most common cancers continue to decline. Less people died from lung, breast,
prostate, and colorectal cancers in the late 1990s, and deaths from all cancers combined
stabilized at this time as well. The report, published by federal cancer experts in early
September 2003, suggests that further declines in cancer are possible with strong federal,
state, local, and private partnerships to increase cancer screening programs to all
population groups.
The Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2000, is collaboration of
the American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the
National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the North American Association of Central Cancer
Registries. The report updates statistics on lung, female breast, prostate, and colorectal
cancers and highlights the uses of selected surveillance data to aid in the development of
state-based cancer control plans, according to the published report in the September 3,
2003 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
The report finds that rates for all types of cancers combined in the United States
increased from the mid-1970s through 1992, declined from 1992 to 1995, and then stabilized
from 1995 to 2000. In the late 1990s, researchers found an increase in the incidence of
breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men but a decrease in lung cancer among men
offset the overall cancer trend.
With respect to deaths from cancer in the U.S., overall deaths increased through 1990,
stabilized through 1994, and then declined from 1994 through 1998. After 1998, deaths from
cancer remained stable through 2000 (with small declines in deaths among men during this
time).
The decrease in lung cancer reveals that anti-smoking campaigns may be working.
"The steep decline in lung cancer rates in men and the recent slowing of an increase
in rates in women demonstrate that we can move the trend in the number one cancer killer
in the right direction," said John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the
American Cancer Society (ACS), in an NCI news release. "Further progress will require
rigorous application of strategies that we know are effective in reducing tobacco
use."
Deaths from breast cancer fell during the 1990s despite a period of increased
diagnoses. One possible explanation for the increased number of breast cancer cases is the
significant improvement and widespread use of screening
mammography. Mammography helps detect breast cancer in its early stages when the
chances for successful treatment and survival are the greatest. The report also suggests
that the higher rates of late-stage breast cancer diagnoses in some segments of the
population may be due to delayed access to care. This can be particularly common among
women without health insurance and recent immigrants.
Other highlights from the report include the following
- Deaths from prostate cancer have decreased since 1994 despite an increase in diagnoses
since 1995;
- Deaths from colorectal cancer have decreased since the 1970s, while the number of cases
have stabilized since 1996 among men and women;
- Cancer rates differed considerably among different ethnic groups in the U.S. in the
1990s, though deaths from the most common cancers declined overall.
In many cases, the earlier cancer is detected, the greater the chances it can be
successfully treated. Regular physical examinations and cancer screening exams can
increase the chances of detecting cancer at an early stage.
Additional Resources and References
- The "Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975–2000, Featuring
the Uses of Surveillance Data for Cancer Prevention and Control" is published in the
September 3, 2003 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, http://jncicancerspectrum.oupjournals.org/
- The September 2, 2003 National Cancer Institute news release, "Progress Shown in
Death Rates From Four Leading Cancers: Decline in Overall Mortality Has Slowed," is
available at http://www.cancer.gov/
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