The total number of Americans dying of cancer has continued to drop, while the rate of new cancer diagnoses remains stable, according to a new report called “Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2003, Featuring Cancer among U.S. Hispanic/Latino Populations.” The drop in total cancer deaths started in the early 1990s.

The report states that the drop in death rates has occured in 11 of the 15 most common cancers for men and 10 of the 15 most common cancers for women. 1.6% fewer men and 0.8% fewer women died of cancer in 2003, when compared to 1993.

The authors of the report say the fall is mainly due to three factors:

— People smoke less and are exposed less to second-hand smoke
— Earlier detection and screening
— More effective treatment

They stressed that it is crucial to maintain and enhance these efforts in future if we want to see a continued decline.

Betsy A. Kohler, President, North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, Inc, said “The greater decline in cancer death rates among men is due in large part to their substantial decrease in tobacco use. We need to enhance efforts to reduce tobacco use in women so that the rate of decline in cancer death rates becomes comparable to that of men.”

Here are some details about the rate at which new cancers are diagnosed:

1992-2003 Remained steady for both sexes and all races combined —
1995-2003 Remained stable for men —
1979-2003 Overall, increased for women —
2001-2003 Remained stable for female breast cancer (ending increase that started in the 1980s) —
1991-2003 Small increase in female lung cancer —
1982-2003 Decrease in male lung cancer —
1998-2003 Decrease in colon and rectum cancers (both sexes) —
1998-2003 Decrease in cancer of the uterus —
1985-2003 Decrease in ovarian cancer —
1980-2003 Decrease in oral cancer (both sexes) —
1975-2003 Decrease in stomach cancer (both sexes) —
1975-2003 Decrease in female cervical cancer —
1995-2003 Increase in prostate cancer —
1975-2003 increase for male myeloma, leukemia, cancers of the liver, kidney and esophagus

“Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2003, Featuring Cancer among U.S. Hispanic/Latino Populations”
Howe HL, Wu X, Ries LA, Cokkinides V, Ahmed F, Jemal A, Miller B, Williams M, Ward E, Wingo PA, Ramirez A, Edwards BK.
Cancer. October 15, 2006. Vol. 107, Issue 7.
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Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today