FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Janis Rannow, 651-255-8137; 320-583-1415-cell; Janis.Rannow@cancer.org
Lou Harvin, 651-255-8153, Cell: 612-247-9336; Lou Harvin@cancer.org
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINN – Jan. 17, 2007 – An American Cancer Society report shows there was a drop of 3,014 cancer deaths in the United States from 2003 to 2004, the most recent year for which mortality data are available from the National Center for Health Statistics. This drop was significantly larger than the 369 fewer deaths reported for the previous time period (2002 to 2003), which itself marked the first decline in actual number of cancer deaths in the more than 70 years since nationwide data began to be compiled.
In Minnesota, cancer deaths dropped from 9,182 in 2003 to 9,091 in 2004, an even larger proportional decrease than seen nationally (0.5 percent decrease nationally, compared to one percent decrease in Minnesota).
“Everyone involved in the fight against cancer should be proud of this remarkable achievement. For the second straight year, we've seen a decline in the real number of cancer deaths in Minnesota and nationally. What's exciting is how dramatic the drop was this year as compared to last year, which was the first time in 70 years that cancer deaths decreased,” said American Cancer Society Minnesota Health Promotions Director Matt Flory.
While the death rate for all cancers combined has decreased nationally since 1991, not until 2003 was the decrease large enough to outpace the aging and growth of the U.S. population, resulting in two consecutive years of dropping cancer deaths. Progress continues to be made in reducing mortality rates, but cancer remains the top cause of death in Americans under age 85 and among Minnesotans as a whole. In 2004, 1,203 more Minnesotans died of cancer than heart disease.
These figures, and estimates for 2007, come from Cancer Statistics 2007, published in the January/February issue of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, as well as in the 56th edition of its companion publication, Cancer Facts & Figures 2007. American Cancer Society epidemiologists predict that approximately 1.44 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer and 560,000 will die from the disease in 2007.
Highlights from this year’s publications include:
Incidence
· Lung cancer incidence rates in the nation and Minnesota are declining in men and appear to be plateauing in women after increasing for many decades.
· Colorectal cancer incidence rates decreased nationally and in Minnesota from 1998 through 2003 in both males and in females.
· Female breast cancer incidence rates in the nation and Minnesota leveled off from 2001 to 2003 after increasing since 1980, which may reflect the use of mammography screening and a dramatic reduction in hormone replacement therapy.
Mortality
· Overall mortality rates decreased among men and women, except for female lung cancer. In Minnesota, female lung cancer mortality rates continue to increase.
· Lung cancer surpassed breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer death in women in 1987. Nationally, lung cancer is expected to account for 26 percent of all female cancer deaths in 2007.
· The number of lung cancer deaths among women in Minnesota increased by 43 from 2003 (1,017) to 2004 (1,060). The number of lung cancer deaths among men also increased by 29 from 2003 (1,267) to 2004 (1,296).
· The largest change in the number of deaths from the major cancers from 2003 to 2004 nationally was for colorectal cancer, which decreased in both men and women by 1,110 and 1,094 respectively. In Minnesota, there were 102 fewer colorectal cancer deaths among men and 62 among women during the same time period.
Most common cancers in men and women
· Among men, cancers of the prostate, lung and bronchus, and colon and rectum account for more than half (54 percent) of all newly diagnosed cancers. Prostate cancer alone accounts for nearly a third (29 percent) of cases in men.
· The three most commonly diagnosed types of cancer among women in 2007 will be cancers of the breast, lung and bronchus, and colon and rectum, accounting for more than half (52 percent) of estimated cancer cases in women. Breast cancer alone is expected to account for one in four (26 percent) new cancer cases among women.
Cancer disparities
· African American men have a 15 percent higher incidence rate and 38 percent higher death rate than white men. African American women have a nine percent lower incidence rate, but an 18 percent higher death rate than white women for all cancer sites combined.
· In Minnesota, in contrast to national data, cancer incidence and mortality rates among American Indians are slightly higher than among African Americans.
· Among other racial and ethnic groups, cancer incidence and death rates are lower than those in whites and African Americans for all cancer sites combined and for the four most common cancer sites.
The full report can be viewed at www.cancer.org/statistics.
* Minnesota-based statistics provided by the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System in the Minnesota Dept. of Health.
* The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta, the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400 communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.
