Death rates for the four most common cancers -- prostate, breast, lung and colorectal -- continue to decline in the United States, according to Cancer Trends Progress Report: 2005 Update, a biannual publication issued last month by the National Cancer Institute. Overall cancer mortality also continues to drop, said the report.
The online report, first published in 2001, summarizes the nation's progress toward HHS' Healthy People 2010 goals. New features for this year include tutorials, prevention and treatment measures, and links to county and state data, as well as to Healthy People 2020 materials.
Among findings in the report:
- Beginning in the 1960s, adult smoking dipped dramatically and has continued to drop, although it declined only modestly during the 1990s. Smoking among youth continues a decline started in 1997.
- Use of screening tests for breast and cervical cancers remains high. Despite its demonstrated effectiveness, screening for colorectal cancer remains low, although it is increasing.
- Overall cancer incidence rates have been fairly stable for about the past decade.
- Alcohol and fat consumption are decreasing, but fruit and vegetable consumption has only slightly increased.
- Use of appropriate sun protection has slightly increased.
Some rather disturbing information emerged, as well:
- The incidences of breast, prostate, testicular, thyroid, kidney and esophageal cancers; leukemia; non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; myeloma; and melanoma are rising.
- More Americans are overweight or obese, compared with the numbers in the previous report, and leisure-time physical activity is increasing only slightly.
- Death rates from lung cancer continue to rise among women, although not as rapidly as before.
- The highest rates of both new cancers and cancer deaths occur among blacks and people with low socioeconomic status.
Spending for cancer treatment continues to rise along with total health care spending, according to the report.
