National Cancer Institute Reports Decline in Overall Cancer Rates, Deaths
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has announced a marked decline in the amount of new cancer diagnoses and rates of cancer deaths over the past several years. The encouraging news was published as part of the NCI’s annual report, which appeared in the December 7, 2009 issue of the medical journal, Cancer.
According to NCI figures, new diagnoses for all types of cancers fell by nearly one percent each year from 1999 to 2006. Additionally, cancer deaths have declined by approximately 1.6 percent each year from 2001 to 2006.
The reduction of cancer cases and deaths is largely the result of advancements in the treatment of the three most common cancers in men – lung cancer, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer. Nearly as important, are positive numbers that resulted from treatment advancements achieved in two of the three most common cancers in women – breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
In general, the NCI notes that men continue to be at a higher risk for being diagnosed with cancer. However, men also achieved a greater decline in cancer cases and deaths for the most recent time periods when compared to women.
The NCI seems especially optimistic about advancements in colorectal cancer treatment. Through models which take into account a decline in cigarette smoking, improved screening processes and enhanced chemotherapy regimens, it is projected that overall cases of colorectal cancer deaths may drop by as much as 50 percent by 2020.
In addition to the good news associated with the most common forms of cancer, the NCI also reports a decline in cancer rates for prostate, lung, brain, colon, rectum, stomach and oral cavity cancers in men. Declines in cancer rates for females were reported for uterine, ovarian, cervical and oral cavity cancers.
Despite the overall good news, some causes for concern have been noted. While colorectal cancer rates declined overall, rates of the disease among individuals over 50 years of age has risen slightly. Other types of cancer that show a rise in prevalence for men over the time period include kidney, liver, leukemia, esophageal, melanoma and myeloma. In women, lung, thyroid, bladder, kidney and pancreatic cancers continue to rise, among others.
In terms of ethnicity, cancer death rates were shown to be highest among black men and women. Asian and Pacific Islander men and women have the lowest cancer death rates.

