CANCER: U.S. Rates Falling
U.S. cancer rates are dropping and death rates are decreasing, the AP/Chicago Tribune reports. Researchers found the number of new cancer cases per 100,000 people declined about 0.8% each year from 1990-97. "These findings underscore the remarkable progress we've made against cancer," Dr. Richard Klausner, director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), said. The study also showed that lung, prostate, breast and colon and rectum cancers accounted for more than half of all new cancer cases and are the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, although rates are falling. Researchers attribute the improved statistics to earlier detection and the declining number of smokers (Powers, 5/15). "The mortality rates looked as though they peaked around 1991," NCI statistician Lynn Reis said. Based on the report released by NCI, the American Cancer Society, the North American Association of Cancer Registries and CDC, about 1.2 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year and 560,000 will die of the disease (Fox, Reuters/Houston Chronicle, 5/14).
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