Cancer Death Rates Show Significant Decline Over Past 20 Years
Posted on Jan 24, 2013
The American Cancer Society has released new statistics indicating that cancer death rates have tumbled 20 percent since their peak around 20 years ago. It is estimated that 1.2 million lives were spared from cancer during that time span.
In terms of specifics, colorectal cancer, breast cancer in women and lung cancer in men saw death rate drops of more than 30 percent. Prostate cancer saw a drop of more than 40 percent.
Less smoking, early detection and better treatments were cited as important contributing factors in the declines.
Unfortunately, one in four deaths in the U.S. still is due from cancer. In addition, failure to diagnose cancer continues to be a problem as well, and certain cancers, such as liver, pancreatic and thyroid cancers are on the rise.