Cancer death rates continue to decline in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society's (ACS) annual cancer statistics report for 2009. Decreases in death from breast and colorectal cancer make up 60% of the decline among women, while lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer account for nearly 80% of the drop among men.
Cancer death rates dropped 19.2% among men from 1990 to 2005 and 11.4% among women from 1991 to 2005, the study found. Cancer incident rates overall declined 1.8% per year among men from 2001 to 2005 and 0.6% per year from 1998 to 2005 among women. Improvements in both early detection and treatment are credited for the changes.
Prostate (25%), lung and bronchial (15%), and colorectal (10%) cancer are expected to account for half of all cancer diagnoses in men, according to 2009 projections. Lung and bronchial cancers remain the leading cause of death for men, followed by prostate, colon, and rectal cancers.
Prevalence of cancer in men by type
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For women, breast (27%), lung and bronchial (14%), and colorectal (10%) cancer are expected to account for half of cancer cases. Lung and bronchial cancers will be the leading cause of death, followed by breast and colorectal cancers.
Prevalence of cancer in women by type
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The report, Cancer Facts & Figures 2009, noted that African-American men have an 18% higher incidence rate and a 36% higher death rate than Caucasian men. It also noted that lung cancer rates vary greatly among states, reflecting differences in tobacco use.
American Cancer Society CEO John Seffrin, Ph.D., noted that the steady decline in cancer deaths of 1% to 2% represents 650,000 deaths avoided over the past 15 years.
Related Reading
Report: U.S. cancer cases will grow by 45% in 20 years, April 29, 2009
Cancer rates and related deaths drop in U.S., November 26, 2008
Falling breast cancer rates seen only in whites, April 17, 2008
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