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Many Cancer Rates Continue to Decline

The "Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975–2007" found continued declines in many cancer rates.

Rates of death in the United States from all cancers for men and women continued to decline between 2003 and 2007, the newest reporting period available. The findings are from the latest "Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer," coauthored by researchers from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, the National Cancer Institute (part of the National Institutes of Health), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Cancer Society.

Report Highlights

•For the first time since cancer statistics have been monitored, lung cancer death rates (the number of people who die from cancer out of every 100,000 people) decreased in women, more than a decade after rates began dropping in men.
•The incidence rates (the number of people who get cancer out of every 100,000 people) for all types of cancers combined decreased, on average, a bit less than 1% per year between 2003 and 2007.
•Cancer deaths have been dropping steadily since the early 1990s among both men and women.
•Childhood cancer incidence rates continued to increase slightly. Death rates in this age group (birth to age 19) continue to decrease.
•The Special Feature section of the report highlights brain tumors. The authors note that non-malignant tumors make up two-thirds of all adult brain tumors and one-third of childhood brain tumors.


Cancer Among Men, 2003–2007

•Incidence rates decreased for lung, colorectal, mouth and throat, stomach, and brain (malignant only) cancers.
•Incidence rates increased for kidney, pancreas, and liver cancers, and melanoma of the skin.
•Black men had the highest incidence and death rates.


Cancer Among Women, 2003–2007

•Incidence rates decreased for breast, lung, colorectal, uterine, cervical, bladder, and mouth cancers.
•Incidence rates increased for kidney, pancreas, and thyroid cancers, leukemia, and melanoma of the skin.
•White women had the highest incidence rates, but black women had the highest death rates.


Citation

Kohler BA, Ward E, McCarthy BJ, Schymura MJ, Ries LAG, Eheman C, Jemal A, Anderson RA, Ajani UA, Edwards BK. Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975–2007, featuring tumors of the brain and other nervous system. Journal of the National Cancer Institute May 4, 2011.
Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cance... [J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011] - PubMed result


Data Source

U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2007 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2010.
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full-text:
CDC Data & Statistics | Feature: Cancer Rates Continue to Decrease

J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011 Mar 31. [Epub ahead of print]

Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2007, Featuring Tumors of the Brain and Other Nervous System.
Kohler BA, Ward E, McCarthy BJ, Schymura MJ, Ries LA, Eheman C, Jemal A, Anderson RN, Ajani UA, Edwards BK.

Affiliations of authors: North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, Springfield, IL (BAK, MJS); Surveillance and Health Policy Research Department, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA (EW, AJ); Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL (BJM); New York State Cancer Registry, Menands, NY (MJS); Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD (LAGR, BKE); Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA (CE, UAA); Division of Vital Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD (RNA).

Abstract
Background The American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Cancer Institute, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) collaborate annually to provide updated information on cancer occurrence and trends in the United States. This year's report highlights brain and other nervous system (ONS) tumors, including nonmalignant brain tumors, which became reportable on a national level in 2004. Methods Cancer incidence data were obtained from the National Cancer Institute, CDC, and NAACCR, and information on deaths was obtained from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics. The annual percentage changes in age-standardized incidence and death rates (2000 US population standard) for all cancers combined and for the top 15 cancers for men and for women were estimated by joinpoint analysis of long-term (1992-2007 for incidence; 1975-2007 for mortality) trends and short-term fixed interval (1998-2007) trends. Analyses of malignant neuroepithelial brain and ONS tumors were based on data from 1980-2007; data on nonmalignant tumors were available for 2004-2007. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results Overall cancer incidence rates decreased by approximately 1% per year; the decrease was statistically significant (P < .05) in women, but not in men, because of a recent increase in prostate cancer incidence. The death rates continued to decrease for both sexes. Childhood cancer incidence rates continued to increase, whereas death rates continued to decrease. Lung cancer death rates decreased in women for the first time during 2003-2007, more than a decade after decreasing in men. During 2004-2007, more than 213 500 primary brain and ONS tumors were diagnosed, and 35.8% were malignant. From 1987-2007, the incidence of neuroepithelial malignant brain and ONS tumors decreased by 0.4% per year in men and women combined. Conclusions The decrease in cancer incidence and mortality reflects progress in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. However, major challenges remain, including increasing incidence rates and continued low survival for some cancers. Malignant and nonmalignant brain tumors demonstrate differing patterns of occurrence by sex, age, and race, and exhibit considerable biologic diversity. Inclusion of nonmalignant brain tumors in cancer registries provides a fuller assessment of disease burden and medical resource needs associated with these unique tumors.

PMID: 21454908 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Free Article
Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975–2007, Featuring Tumors of the Brain and Other Nervous System

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