Less cancer deaths in U.S. for both men and women

William Atkins
Wednesday, 09 December 2009 02:59

Science - Health

According to a national health report that came out early in December 2009, diagnoses and deaths from cancer have generally decreased over the last several years for people in the United States.


The annual health report on cancer in the United States was produced by such heath organizations as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.

According to the report, overall all types of cancer within the United States dropped by almost 1% per year from 1999 to 2006.

And, deaths from cancer, generally decreased about 1.6% a year from 2001 to 2006.

These diagnoses and deaths decreased primarily due to efforts to reduce the risk of cancer such as early detection, improved treatments and therapies, better diets, and less tobacco smoking.

For men, the most frequent occurring types of cancer are lung, prostate, and colorectal. However, all three types of cancer showed decreases in diagnoses and deaths. In addition, new cases of cancer in the area of the brain, stomach, and oral cavity also decreased.

Also, the rate of pancreatic cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma did not change in men. However, the rate of brain, esophagus, kidney, and liver cancers in men increased. There was also an increase for melanoma and myeloma in men.

Men dropped about 2% in rates of lung cancer death.

Page two talks about rates of cancer in women over the past several years, and a dramatic decrease in colorectal cancer for both men and women.