Cancer Deaths on the Decline in America

Posted on September 18, 2009 in Health & Medicine, Recent Studies

The number of cancer patients who die from the disease is declining, and has been declining steadily since the 1930s. A new study lead by Dr. Eric Kort of the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan examined the extent and causes of this decline.

Kort’s team reported that, while mortality rates are declining for everyone, it is the younger patients who are seeing the most improvement in their chance of surviving cancer. For patients aged 35-45 the chances of dying of cancer have decreased by 25.6%, while the decrease for older patients is only 6.8%

The study credits efforts towards prevention and early detection in lowering mortality over the years. The anti-smoking campaign has reduced the number of deaths from lung cancer. Mammograms and colonoscopies make early detection far more likely. Cancer is much easier to treat and overcome when caught in the early stages.

Progress has also been made in treating some types of cancer, particularly childhood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma that were once considered virtually incurable.

Despite these improvements, cancer is still the second leading cause of death in the United States, claiming over 560,000 lives each year.