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While it was already clear that better treatment strategies had made a dent in cancer deaths, the decline in detection rates is a major milestone.
Dr. Otis W. Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society said:
"The drop in incidence ... is something we have been waiting to see for a long time. The continuing drop in mortality is evidence once again of real progress made against cancer, reflecting real gains in prevention, early detection and treatment."
According to the report, cancer diagnosis rates decreased by an average of 0.8% annually from 1999 to 2005, the last year for which data is available.
Other doctors are not so sure, predicting that as baby boomers start to reach the age where cancer becomes more prevalent, the rates may rise again.
It appears that prevention is part of the reason, but researchers also attribute some of the change to better screening and treatment as well.
But while the incidence rates dropped for 10 of the top 15 cancers, the rate is rising for other types of cancer: for men, cancers of the liver, kidney and esophagus, as well as for melanoma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and myeloma; for women, cancers of the thyroid, pancreas and brain and nervous system, and for leukemia.
Posted November 26th, 2008 by Michael Santo
Cancer Rates
I am so glad that the cancer rates are dropping in USA. Prevention, good technology, early testing and screening all contribute to cancer rate drop. I wish this was also availabel in poor and developing countries. Cancer patients don't have much hope there.