The American Cancer Society has published a report showing a dramatic 25% decrease in the cancer death rate since 1991. The ACA has issued the report annually to measure the amount of cancer cases, deaths and survivals on a national level. The mortality rate is expected to continue to drop in the coming years due to widespread lifestyle changes and advances in early detection. Decreases in lung cancer have been an especially large contributor to the lower death rates.
The study found that the cancer rate is likely to be dropping due to a decrease in the number of smokers, especially among men. Cancer deaths among men have fallen 31% since 1990 and 21% among women since 1991, which is largely attributed to decreasing tobacco use. (Men still have a higher rate of cancer deaths than women overall, however.) The Surgeon General’s 1964 report on smoking has changed mindsets about health issues related to smoking.
In the early 90s, there was a large racial disparity for cancer deaths in the US. This issue was especially pronounced for black males, who experienced much higher rates of cancer deaths than the white population. The difference in cancer deaths between black and white men shrunk from 47% in 1990 to 21% in 2014. For women, the difference narrowed as well, from a peak of 20% in 1998 to a low of 13% in 2014. This racial disparity may have decreased due to improved access to healthcare in recent years. The number of uninsured black men and women was cut in half from 2010 to 2015.
Lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancers saw the highest survival rate improvements. Early detection for these cancers is a key factor in lower mortality, and technological advancements in scanning equipment are sure to have played a role. Detecting cancer is becoming faster, easier and cheaper than ever before. Doctors and patients alike can expect a continuation of the improvements seen in recent years. There may not yet be a 100% survival rate just yet, but the statistics are showing a steady decrease in deaths, which is good news for everyone.
