Cancer Death and Incidence Rates Drop

The Journal of the National Cancer Institute online recently reported that in the United States, the rates of new diagnoses and deaths from cancer have shown a decrease for the first time since 1998, when reporting began. The report noted that though the death rates for cancer have been dropping in recent years in both men and women, this is the first report that also shows a drop in the incidence of cancer, or newly diagnosed cases. In total, the incidence rate dropped 0.8% each year from 1999 to 2005 for all cancers, in both men and women. Men showed a decrease in both the death rates and new cases for lung cancer, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer, the most common cancers found in males. As for women, it was reported that the incidence and death rates fell for breast cancer and colorectal cancer, the two most common cancers found in females.

One not so positive statistic that was reported was the increase of lung cancer deaths and newly diagnosed cases in the South and Midwest. Eighteen states had higher rates of lung cancer deaths and new lung cancer cases, likely due to the lack of smoking bans in these areas. In addition to absence of non-smoking laws, these states have also not raised their excise taxes on cigarettes as many other states have done, giving smokers less of an incentive to quit. However, overall in the U.S., lung cancer deaths have been decreasing in men for the past decade, while the rates for women have stopped rising and are leveling off at this point. Specifically in the state of California, which banned smoking in most workplaces in 1995 and in most bars and casinos in 1996, the number of lung cancer deaths and newly diagnosed cases dropped in women. As for men in California, the report stated that lung cancer deaths fell an average of 2.8% each year from 1996 to 2005.

According to the National Cancer Society, roughly 30% of all cancer-related deaths in the United States are caused by smoking cigarettes, with about 80% of those deaths involving lung cancer. Cigarette smoking can also cause cancer of the larynx, oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus, and bladder, in addition to kidney, pancreatic, cervical, and stomach cancer.

The report was compiled by the American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, the leading cancer and medical research organizations.

All forms of cancer are serious and usually require significant amounts of treatment or intricate procedures. If you or a loved one has medical malpractice questions in New York, please contact Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, serving clients with Nassau and Suffolk County medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Bronx medical malpractice and Queens medical malpractice cases. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

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