health
Less smoking and early detection cited for fewer cancer deaths
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 28, 2013
The nation’s overall cancer death rate is decreasing, according to the American Cancer Society’s annual cancer statistics report published online Jan. 17 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
The rate dropped from its peak in 1991 of 215.1 deaths per 100,000 people to 173.1 deaths per 100,000 in 2009. That translates to about 1.2 million fewer cancer deaths, the report said.
This improvement is due in large part to Americans’ reduction of smoking and advancements in early detection for breast, colorectal and prostate cancers, the ACS said. But more progress is needed, the report added (link).
In 2013, 1.6 million new cancer cases and 580,350 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the U.S. Lung cancer is expected to account for 26% of all female cancer deaths and 28% of all cancer deaths in men. While incidence rates are declining for most cancer types, increases are being seen for melanoma and cancers of the liver, pancreas and thyroid, data show.
