Study Finds We Are Winning the War on Cancer as
Death Rates Decline Steadily Since 1990
For those under age 75, drop in cancer death rate
between 1970-2006 resulted in about 2.0 million years of potential life
gained
March
9, 2010 – We are winning the war on cancer, declares the author of a new
study that finds a downturn in cancer death rates since 1990. This
favorable trend is mostly due reductions in tobacco use, increased
cancer screening to detect cancers early, and improvements in treatment
for specific cancers.
The new American Cancer Society study finds
progress in reducing cancer death rates is evident whether measured
against baseline rates in 1970 or in 1990. The study appears in the open
access journal PLos ONE.
Although age-standardized cancer death rates in the
U.S. have been decreasing since the early 1990s, some reports have cited
limited improvement in death rates as evidence that the "war on cancer",
which was initiated in 1971, has failed.
Many of these analyses fail to
account for the dominant and dramatic increase in cancer death rates due
to tobacco-related cancers in the latter part of the 20th century.
Trends over time in death rates are the most
reliable measure of progress against cancer, reflecting improvements in
prevention, early detection, and treatment.
To investigate further, researchers led by American
Cancer Society epidemiologist Ahmedin Jemal, Ph.D., used nationwide
cancer mortality data for the years 1970 through 2006 from the SEER*Stat
database, which defines major cancer sites consistently over time in
order to facilitate reporting of long term mortality trends.
They found for all cancers combined, death rates
(per 100,000) in men increased from 249.3 in 1970 to 279.8 in 1990, and
then decreased to 221.1 in 2006, yielding a relative decline of 21% from
1990 (peak year) and a drop of 11% since 1970 (baseline year).
New study focused on television watching but
suggests any prolonged sedentary behavior, such as sitting at a desk or
in front of a computer, may pose a health risk, too
Similarly, the death rate from all-cancers combined
in women increased from 163.0 in 1970 to 175.3 in 1991, and then
decreased to 153.7 in 2006, a relative decline of 12% and 6% from the
1991 (peak year) and 1970 rates, respectively.
The biggest gains for men are the declines in these
cancer specific sites: stomach (-43%), prostate (-38.9%), colorectum
(-33.4%), oral cavity & pharynax (-32.6%) and lung & bronchus (-25.5%).
The biggest gains for women are the declines in these cancer specific
sites: stomach (-34%), oral cavity & pharynx (31.6%), cervix uteri
(30.7%), colorectum (28.4%) and breast (28.3%).
(See chart below news report for results for
specific cancers.)
The researchers also calculated years of potential
life lost (YPLL) due to cancer before age 75 for 2006 as additional
measure for the impact of declining cancer death rates on population
health. They compared this to the YPLL that would have been expected had
the 1970 age-specific cancer death rates continued to apply in 2006.
For persons under age 75, the decrease in cancer
death rates during the 36 years time interval (1970-2006) resulted in
about 2.0 million years of potential life gained.
"Contrary to the pessimistic news from the popular
media, overall cancer death rates have decreased substantially in both
men and women whether measured against baseline rates in 1970/71 when
the National Cancer Act was signed by President Nixon or when measured
against the peak rates in 1990/91," write the authors.
Despite those gains, the authors caution against
complacency. "Continued and increased investment in cancer prevention
and control, access to high quality health care, and research could
accelerate this progress," they conclude.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
March
9, 2010 – We are winning the war on cancer, declares the author of a new
study that finds a downturn in cancer death rates since 1990. This
favorable trend is mostly due reductions in tobacco use, increased
cancer screening to detect cancers early, and improvements in treatment
for specific cancers.
