Date: Fri 23-Apr-1999

Publication: Hea

Author: SARAH

Quick Words:

cancer-rates-declining

Full Text:

HEALTH MONITOR: Cancer Rates Are Declining

DANBURY -- Fewer Americans will die of cancer this year in the United States

than last year, according to the American Cancer Society's newly released 1999

cancer Facts and Figures, a publication which tracks trends in cancer

diagnoses and deaths.

Approximately 563,100 cancer deaths are expected to occur in the US in 1999,

down from the 1998 estimate of 564,800. In Connecticut, 7,000 deaths are

expected. The cancer incidence rate -- the rate at which new cancer cases

occur -- is also expected to decline. Nationally, an estimated 1,221,800 cases

are expected to be diagnosed in 1999, compared with 1,228,600 in 1998. In

Connecticut, 15,100 of cases are expected this year, compared 15,400 in 1998.

Both drops are indicative of hopeful trends which began in the earlier part of

the decade and are attributed to the cumulative effects of factors like

quitting smoking, checkups to find cancer in its earliest stages, and improved

treatments. During 1990-1995, the cancer incidence rate decreased on average

.7 percent per year and cancer death rates decreased .5 percent per year. The

cancers which decreased in incidence were those of the lung (males only),

prostate, colon/rectum, urinary bladder, and leukemia. Death rates declined in

female breast, prostate, colon/rectum for both men and women, and lung cancers

among men.

"We're encouraged by the progress we're beginning to see in the fight against

cancer," said Rich Vuilliquez of the Western Connecticut Unit of the American

Cancer Society. "I am optimistic that these trends will continue. Without even

one more discovery in the lab, so many of this year's cancer cases and deaths

can be prevented, if we simply put into practice those things we already know

can save lives, like quitting smoking and making healthy choices each day."

While cancer affects millions every year, the survival rate is increasing

steadily. The relative five-year survival rate for cancer now stands at 60

percent up from 58 percent last year, and 41 percent in the early 1980s.

Lung cancer remains the number one cause of cancer death in the United States.

Although mortality rates in men have been decreasing, largely due to their

decreased smoking rates, those in women are still increasing. However, since

the national prevalence of current cigarette smoking among high school

students was 32 percent higher in 1997 than in 1991, mortality rates for both

sexes are expected to climb.

"Tobacco use among youth remains one of our biggest health problems," Mr

Vuilliquez said. "Nationally, 3,000 children begin smoking each day, with as

few as four cigarettes enough to addict a young child. As adults, they develop

cancer and heart disease and die an average of 15 years prematurely."

After lung cancer, invasive breast cancer is the second major cause of cancer

death in women, with 175,000 new cases expected. Fortunately, early detection

and improved treatment have resulted in a significant decline in mortality

rates, especially in younger women.

Numbers listed in Cancer Facts and Figures are estimates, based on actual data

for 1979-1995. Free copies of this publication will be available at the

Western Connecticut American Cancer Society office, 40 North Street, Danbury,

Conn. 06810, 203/748-2803 or on the society's web site (www.cancer.org) in

May. Further information on cancer statistics can also be obtained by calling

800/ACS-2345, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.