Save Share Print

Home News Cancer Rates Decline

Cancer Rates Decline

Published: Saturday, October 20, 2007

Dr. Susan Huntsinger

Cancer is the second leading cause of death after heart disease. More than 550,000 cancer deaths are expected this year. The latest news out of the medical journal Cancer reports that the overall cancer deaths continue to decline. Previously, cancer death rates have been declining approximately 1 percent over a 10-year period. But, between 2002 and 2004, there was a 2 percent decline in cancers. A small decline at first glance in percentage value, yet more than 60 percent of cancer patients now live five years past their diagnosis. The decline is simple: cancers are being prevented through early detection of all cancers by use of proper screening tools, improved cancer treatment and through the advancement in technology.

Overall cancer rates in men have decreased more than 4 percent for a four-year period but recently have been stable. Overall cancer incidence for women has stabilized after many years of an increase. The biggest decline has been with breast cancer. Breast cancer had increased over a 20-year period, but has stabilized through continued annual mammograms.

The declining rates of cancer development can be attributed to early detection of precancerous lesions by screening tests such as colonoscopy for colon cancer and mammograms for breast cancer. A colonoscopy can identify and remove precancerous polyps within the colon before they have the potential to become cancer. A mammogram can detect abnormalities within the breast tissue such as ductal carcinoma in situ and lobular carcinoma in situ. These abnormalities can be surgically removed before they have the ability to develop into invasive breast cancer.

These findings again reiterate the importance of screening and early detection in the fight against cancer. Another piece to the puzzle is for everyone to try and focus on leading a healthy and active lifestyle by eating right and exercising on a regular basis. We know that obesity by way of a high fat diet and physical inactivity can increase one's risk of developing many different types of cancer. Through lifestyle modification and making healthy choices, further incidences of cancer could be significantly reduced.

For further inquires about cancer, please email CancerInstitute@mc.utmck.edu.  



Contributors
Dr. Susan Huntsinger

References
American Cancer Society
National Cancer Institute