Posted: 02/07/07

Cancer deaths on the decline
U.S. sees cancer death rates drop for a second year

Juli Bongiorno | contributing writer
jbongiorno@smcvt.edu

Cancer death rates have dropped for the second year in a row, the American Cancer Society (ACS) reported in a Jan. 17 press release on their Web site. These statistics were compiled using mortality data from 2003 to 2004. Death rates in the three most common types of cancer- lung, breast and colorectal- excluding lung cancer in women, have decreased over the past year, according to the ACS Web site.

 Why are the numbers down?

Less exposure to tobacco, better treatment, and early detection through screening are the three factors most responsible for the decrease in Cancer deaths, according to the National Cancer Institute Web site. Betsy Kohler, president of the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries says that the decrease in deaths among men is due to decreases in tobacco use.

Cancer deaths are down in men partly because of decreases in tobacco use (Juli Bongiorno, photo)

Screening has been a very important contribution to decreased death rates according to Brian Flynn, head of the Vermont Cancer Center Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program. He recommends that adults over the age of 50 get screened for colon cancer every ten years, but says only one out of two actually do. Although many insurers now cover the costly procedure, which can run up to $600, many of the population who need the screening are uninsured, he says. As part of his research program, Flynn encourages doctors and patients to have serious discussions about cancer screening.

He also recommends that women receive mammograms as directed by their physicians. Between 80 and 90 percent of women currently receive mammograms, he says. Insurance generally covers the costs of these screenings. Lung cancer, which is by far the deadliest cancer, killing 160,390 Americans last year, is almost completely preventable, Flynn says.

“We don’t really understand breast cancer, we sort of understand colon cancer, and we almost totally understand lung cancer,” he says. “It’s something that basically people do to themselves.”

While adult smoking rates have not decreased substantially, smoking rates with middle and high school students has decreased dramatically, Flynn says. This may be explained by the fact that is harder for adults to quit smoking. Vermont also offers a smoking quit line which pairs cessation coaches with persons who wish to quit smoking.

Know the facts

There are nearly half a million deaths from cancer and 1.5 million diagnoses every year, according to the American Cancer Society. Most cancer is found in older persons, as 77 percent of cancer cases are diagnosed in people age 55 or older, according to the ACS Web site. It also reports that only five percent of all cancers are hereditary.

The ACS recently released a “cancer facts and figures 2007” report which included profiles of cancer cases and deaths by state. According to the document, 430 Vermonters were diagnosed with breast cancer and 100 women died from it this year. Colorectal cancer was diagnosed in 390 patients, and took the lives of 120 people, whereas lung cancer was responsible for 440 diagnoses and 350 deaths.

The ACS not only provides statistical data, but also offers support for cancer patients, gives access to recent research, and raises money for new treatment research. Relay for Life, a fundraising campaign, is held throughout the country every year at different times. On March 10, the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vt., will hold a nordic ski Relay for Life. An overnight event, it spans 12 hours, and one member of each team should be on the course at all times. Last year the Stowe event raised over $75,000.

In 1998, the Centers for Disease Control established the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP). The basic goals of the program are risk reduction, early detection, better treatment, and enhanced survivorship, according to the CDC Web site.

“The idea is to coordinate many different cancer efforts across the country within jurisdictions,” says John Olsen, coordinator of the Comprehensive Cancer Control at the Vermont Department of Health. "In Vermont, we have one statewide comprehensive cancer control planning effort."

The NCCCP works with other cancer initiatives such as the American Cancer Society, The National Cancer Institute, The Lance Armstrong Foundation, and the National Association of County and City Hospital Officials, according to it's national Web site.

The Vermont program has recently focused on colorectal screening in persons over the age of 50, Olsen says. It also has spent the last year working on what is referred to as “survivorship."

“That’s [survivorship] anywhere from the point of initial diagnosis in the doctors office to what happens the next two or three weeks, what happens during treatment, what happens beyond treatment, and for what happens years and years and years,” Olsen says.

Young adult cancer rates, risk behaviors, and prevention

People under the age of 20 represent one percent of cancer cases, says Ali Johnson of the Vermont Department of Health. Only about 15 Vermonters between the ages of 20 and 24 are diagnosed with cancer in Vermont every year, she says. The most common types of cancer among young adults are melanoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, testicular cancer and thyroid cancer.

Eating fired or fatty foods can heighten the risk for cancer. (Juli Bongiorno, photo)

While young people are not as much at risk for developing cancer, they should know about preventative measures and risk behaviors, Johnson says.

“Cancer develops over many years, as the result of many factors.  The best thing younger people can do to lower their cancer risk in the future is to make healthy lifestyle choices now,” Johnson says.

She recommends six actions that young adults can take now to help prevent cancer. They should limit sun exposure by using sun screen and avoiding tanning beds, eat well, be physically active, avoid tobacco, limit consumption of alcohol to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men, and practice abstinence or safe sex. Women should also get a yearly pap test and pelvic exam, she says. While these tips may seem like common sense lifestyle choices, Johnson says that these activities are linked to cancer risks.