Cancer Deaths Levelling Off, Report Says

[newyawker99]

There's sobering news from the cancer front: Deaths appear to be leveling off after several years of decline. For several types of cancer, black patients are increasingly less likely to survive than whites.

And many states are lagging in proven methods to fight the most common tumors, says the nation's annual report on cancer. Sixteen states spend less than $1 per person on tobacco control - far less than the $5 to $10 per person recommended - even though smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, the top cancer killer. Screening for breast and colorectal cancer varies widely, too.

"The progress against cancer continues to be mixed," said Dr. Michael Thun of the American Cancer Society, who co-authored the report, published Tuesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Instead of awaiting the next anticancer discovery, the report shows states how to better target programs proven to save lives that aren't being offered equally across the country, he said.

cancer news

[ugarte]

1. Very simple: lack of health insurance

Cancers aren't being caught early because people without insurance delay going to the doctor...until it's too late.


But look on the bright side. The Pentagon is fat and happy.

[treepig]

2. considering that between 30 and 70% of cancers

are caused partially or primarily by the diet (yeah, nobody really knows the details) - trends towards eating massive amounts of fast food cannot be helping (if for no other reason than that it cuts down on eating things like broccoli and those yummy yummy brussels sprouts that contain significant levels of anti-cancer agents).

[MetaTrope]

3. Cancer "treatments" have just kept people alive longer

The percentage of people with cancer who eventually die from it hasn't budged an inch. Something you won't hear from that multibillion dollar industry, though.