2007 Cancer Facts & Figures ACS

[Guest guest]

Fewer people died of cancer in 2004 than in 2003, marking the second

consecutive year that cancer deaths have declined in the United States, a

new American Cancer Society report shows. According to Cancer Statistics

2007, there were 3,014 fewer cancer deaths in 2004 compared to the previous

year. The report is published in the latest issue of the ACS journal CA: A

Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

That number is much higher than the drop of 369 deaths reported between 2003

and 2002. And that suggests the trend is more than just a statistical blip,

experts say.

" This second consecutive drop in the number of actual cancer deaths, much

steeper than the first, shows last year's historic drop was no fluke, " says

R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer

Society. " The hard work towards preventing cancer, catching it early, and

making treatment more effective is paying dramatic, lifesaving dividends. "

The CA article and its companion piece, Cancer Facts & Figures 2007, are

yearly ACS reports that estimate the number of cancer cases and deaths in

the coming year. For 2007, an estimated 1,444,920 new cases of cancer are

expected, along with 559,650 cancer deaths.

Rates Declining for Most Major Cancers

The number of breast cancer cases in the US has leveled off in recent years,

according to Facts & Figures. In 2007, 178,480 new cases of invasive breast

cancer are expected. Breast cancer death rates have been dropping steadily

since 1990, the report says, because of earlier detection and better

treatments. About 40,910 breast cancer deaths are expected in 2007.

Death rates from prostate cancer are also declining. About 27,050 deaths are

expected in 2007. Some 218,890 new cases are expected.

Both incidence and death rates have dropped for colorectal cancer in recent

years. Around 112,340 cases and 52,180 deaths are expected in 2007.

Lung cancer remains the top cancer killer among both men and women, the

report shows. Around 160,390 deaths are expected in 2007. About 213,380

people are expected to develop lung cancer. Incidence and death rates among

women have flattened in recent years, but fewer men are getting lung cancer

or dying from it.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Cancer_Deaths_Down_Again.

asp

Statistics for 2007 The ACS tracks cancer occurrence, including the number

of deaths, cases, and how long people survive after diagnosis. ACS also

tracks data regarding behaviors that influence the risk of developing cancer

and the use of screening tests.

Caution: It is very important to note that, beginning with the 2003 Cancer

Facts & Figures, the incidence and mortality data has been age-adjusted to

the 2000 population standard of the United States.

This change in method will affect the comparability of the new report's data

with that of previous years. The new approach will result in some dramatic

changes in the rates of cancer incidence and mortality, rates at different

ages, magnitude of improvement in cancer, and racial and ethnic differences.

For 2007 Cancer Facts & Figures

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/STT/stt_0.asp

C. Meade

 

 

We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way

through Congress.

-- Will