The number of people dying from cancer in the United States has continuously decreased over the last three decades, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society.
The cancer mortality rate in the United States has dropped 33% since 1991, which corresponds to about 3.8 million avoided deaths, according to a report published this Thursday (12).
The report attributes this steady progress to improvements in cancer treatment, a decline in smoking, and increased early detection.
The report also includes projections for 2023, estimating that there may be nearly 2 million new cancer cases – equivalent to about 5,000 cases per day – and more than 600,000 cancer deaths in the United States this year.
The likelihood of being diagnosed with any type of invasive cancer in one’s lifetime is estimated at 40.9% for men and 39.1% for women in the United States, according to the report.
Some Types of Cancer Are Increasing
Although the cancer mortality rate has steadily decreased, the new report also highlights that new cases of breast, uterine, and prostate cancer have been “concerning” and are on the rise in the United States.
The incidence rates of breast cancer in women have been increasing by about 0.5% per year since the mid-2000s, according to the report.
The incidence of uterine cancer has increased by about 1% per year since the mid-2000s among women aged 50 and older and nearly 2% per year since at least the mid-1990s in younger women.
The prostate cancer incidence rate increased by 3% per year from 2014 to 2019, after two decades of decline.
Experts say that the best way to reduce cancer deaths is through screening via preventive exams. It is already well known that, in most cases, cancer found at an early stage has a higher chance of being cured.
Source: CNN