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February 10, 2006
Cancer Deaths Fall, Ending 70-Year Trend
The war on cancer may have reached a dramatic turning point: For the first time in more than 70 years, annual cancer deaths in the United States have fallen. The number of cancer deaths dropped to 556,902 in 2003, down from 557,271 the year before, according to a recently completed review of U.S. death certificates by the National Center for Health Statistics.
It's the first annual decrease in total cancer deaths since 1930, when nationwide data began to be compiled. Experts are attributing the success to declines in smoking, and the earlier detection and more effective treatment of tumors. Death rates have fallen for lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer, according American Cancer Society officials, who analyzed the federal death data.
We wonder are the number of cancer diagnoses and cases also declining? If not, this would mean more survivors - placing greater emphasis on cancer survivorship programs like Choose to Laugh, the Wellness Community, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and things like the Laugh Library. Thoughts?
Posted by chooseto at February 10, 2006 05:21 PM