by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

The Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported good news in its annual report to the nation on the status of cancer.  Newly diagnosed cancer rates in men declined 1.6 percent per year from 2001 to 2005. In women, they declined 0.6 percent per year from 1997 to 2005.  Ten out of 15 of the most common cancers went down.

Not all was good news, as you will see below, but it is a start.

Specifically, the cancers that declined in women were:

• Breast
• Colon/rectum
• Uterus
• Ovary
• Cervix
• Oral Cavity

New diagnosis of cancers went up in the following:

• Lung
• Thyroid
• Pancreas
• Brain/nervous system
• Bladder/kidney
• Leukemia
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Melanoma

For men, the following cancers declined:

• Lung
• Colon/rectum
• Stomach
• Oral cavity
• Prostate

These cancers went up in men.

• Liver
• Kidney
• Esophagus
• Melanoma
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Myeloma

One of the reasons for the decline could be early screening and detection, such as colonoscopies in colon cancer.  The bad news is the decline could be partly due to a decrease in screening and not detecting the early cancers.  Fewer women are getting mammograms than they were a few years ago.

What is causing the increase in some cancers? We know excessive sunshine increases the risk for skin cancers and that the most deadly of these, melanomas, are being found in younger and younger adults.

And then there is the old nemesis, tobacco.  Smoking causes 80 percent of lung cancers and 30 percent of cancers overall. It increases cancer risk for bladder, oral cavity, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), esophagus, cervix, kidney, lung, pancreas, stomach and types of leukemia.  This year’s annual report paid particular attention to regional smoking and its effects.

To no one’s surprise, the incidence of lung cancer was lowest in the states with the lowest rate of smoking.  Kentucky, with the most smoking, had three times more lung cancer than Utah, with the least smoking.  Men have been quitting or not starting to smoke more than women, which explains why women’s lung cancer rate is not falling overall.

The take-home message?  The current advice (stop smoking, periodic screening, and limit sun exposure) is helping and proven by these results.

Are you taking any steps to decrease your risk?

Tags: breast cancer, colon cancer, surgeon general

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This entry's content reflects the opinions and reporting of the author and not necessarily that of JHMFD. This entry was posted on Monday, December 1st, 2008 at 12:01 am and is filed under Cancer, Studies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.