Cancer Deaths on the Decline in the United States

The number of people dying from cancer are slowly on the decline. The number of deaths has dropped by 2 percent for men and 1.6 percent for women. The numbers are based on statistics between 2001 and 2006. This decrease is being attributed to better screening processes, earlier detection, and people are finally beginning to quit smoking. Better, more advanced treatment options are also factors in the decline mortality rate.

The death rate of all cancers in the United States in 2007 was 178.4 per 100,000 people. This is a slight drop of 1.3 percent from the 2006 numbers when 180.7 per 100,000 people died from cancer. This equates to 767,000 people surviving cancer over the past 20 years. The American Cancer Society has developed predictions about cancer rates this year based on these statistics. The group estimates 1,529,560 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2010. 569,490 people will die from cancer this year.

Lung cancer remains in the top position as the deadliest cancer. The American Cancer Society predicts that 222,520 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year alone and 157, 300 will die from it. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women and prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death for men and women. The number of people dying from colorectal cancer is expected to decrease even more with the increase of colorectal cancer screenings being done.