Cancer Deaths for 2006 are predicted to decline

Article Added April 2nd, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

Cancer deaths for 2006 are predicted to decline compared to 2005 estimates, per the American Cancer Society. This is the first decline in over 70 years as reported by the National Center for Health Statistics. It is still uncertain if the number of yearly cancer death will continue to decline. Either way, these estimates mark an noteworthy milestone in the fight against cancer.

According to the Cancer Facts & Figures (55^th Ed), approximately 1.4 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer and 565,000 will die from cancer. It is also estimated that close to 175,000 new cases of lung cancer in 2006 with over 162,000 dying. Studies also showed that the state with the highest lung cancer death rate in the country is Kentucky. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in both men and women. For women, breast cancer is the second most common cancer. For men, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer.

Since an estimated six percent of the cancer deaths are attributed to environmental pollutants and occupational exposures, this form of causation has drawn considerable public, scientific and political interest. Consequently, Cancer Facts & Figures has featured a Special Section considering these types of environmental and occupational exposures. One source of air pollutants discussed is asbestos. Asbestos causes a rare but deadly type of lung cancer called mesothelioma. There is asbestos in thousands of buildings throughout the U.S that were constructed between the 30’s and mid-70’s. This normally is not a hazard until there are renovations or demolitions. The Cancer Facts & Figures Special Section has recommendations from public health agencies for minimizing asbestos exposure.

This detailed report discusses many other types of cancers, as well as many other air contaminants such as tobacco smoke and benzene. Benzene is know to cause leukemia and is found in various products including automobile exhaust and gasoline fumes. Full text of the report can be found at www.cancer.org/statistics

Article Added April 2nd, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story