Cancer Now Number One?

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

Presumably this is true only when other vascular diseases are

excluded from the heart disease data?

" Cancer Now Top Killer of Americans

Thursday, January 20, 2005

By J. DeNoon

Cancer has surpassed heart disease to become the leading cause of

death in the U.S., according to new statistics released today by the

American Cancer Society.

The group predicts that 1,372,910 Americans this year will hear the

words " you've got cancer. " And, the group says, in 2005 cancer will

kill 570,280 Americans — more than 1,500 a day.

Despite cancer's spot as America's No. 1 cause of death, the overall

U.S. cancer death rate actually has been going down. Why? More

widespread cancer screening and better cancer treatment, says

Ward, PhD, director of surveillance research for the

American Cancer Society.

" We can say with confidence that both are occurring, " Ward tells

WebMD. " The declines in the cancer mortality rate are due to earlier

detection and to improvements in treatment. "

Lung Cancer Still Top Cancer Killer

Lung cancer is still the top cause of cancer death. It's the cause of

one-third of cancer deaths in men and of one-fourth of cancer deaths

in women. But the U.S. campaign against tobacco use has had an

effect. Lung cancer deaths among men are dropping. And after years of

increases, lung cancer deaths are leveling off among women.

Breast cancer causes a third of all cancers in women. It's their

second leading cause of cancer death. But here, too, death rates are

going down — again largely due to more women getting screening

mammograms and to advances in treatment.

Prostate cancer is to men what breast cancer is to women. It's the

No. 2 cause of male cancer death. Death rates are going down,

although it is not yet clear whether this is due to the PSA screening

blood test.

" The kinds of studies that can demonstrate the benefit of PSA

screening are being done but are not concluded, " Ward says. " So the

American Cancer Society recommends that when men reach 50, they

should discuss with their doctors the benefits and risks of PSA

screening. "

Colon cancer is the No. 3 cause of cancer deaths in both men and

women. Although colon cancer rates are dropping, there is much more

that can be done. Colon cancer grows very slowly — so screening has

an excellent chance of catching growths in the colon or rectum before

they become cancerous. But so far, too few people get these tests.

" Fewer than 50 percent of people over age 50 are getting colon cancer

screening, " Ward says.

Ward notes that the new cancer figures highlight a shocking disparity

in health care. African-American men have a 40 percent higher cancer

death rate than white men. African-American women have a 20 percent

higher cancer death rate than white women.

Why? Studies show that cancer treatment is equally successful for all

races. The data — reported in the January/February issue of CA: A

Cancer Journal for Clinicians — show that African-Americans are less

likely to have their cancer caught early, when it is still more

easily and successfully treated.

" We must ensure that existing knowledge reaches all Americans, " Ward

says. " One of the ways we can increase the rate at which cancer

prevention is achieved in our population as a whole is by making sure

we reach the poor and medically underserved with this important

information. "

The most important information:

—Stop smoking. Keep young people from starting smoking.

—Watch your weight. Being overweight or obese boosts cancer risk.

—Get cancer screening tests.

By J. DeNoon, reviewed by W. , MD

SOURCES: Jemal, A. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians,

January/February 2005; vol 55: pp 10-30. Ward, PhD,

director of surveillance research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta.

News conference, American Cancer Society, Jan. 19, 2005. "

Rodney.