New data about cancer rates in the U.S. shows that rates are dropping for several common cancers. However, risks for some cancers are rising at the same time. KYW medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough looked at these numbers this week.
“Let me start with the good news, and the news is excellent,” he said. “Cancer mortality in the U.S. has dropped over the past 20 years, according to the Annual Report to the Nation of the Status of Cancer.”
Per that most recent report, cancer death rates decreased an average of 1.7% per year for men and an average of 1.3% per year for women overall from 2018 to 2022.
Out of the 19 most common cancers in men, death rates for 12 dropped: prostate, liver and intrahepatic bile duct, esophagus, melanoma of the skin, kidney and renal pelvis, urinary bladder, colon and rectum, leukemia, myeloma, stomach, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and lung and bronchus. Death rates for lung and bronchus cancer fell the fastest.
During the same time period, death rates for 14 out of 20 of the most common cancers in women fell: brain and other nervous system, cervix, soft tissue including heart, urinary bladder, kidney and renal pelvis, breast, stomach, leukemia, colon and rectum, myeloma, gallbladder, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, ovary, and lung and bronchus. As with men, the death rate from lung and bronchus cancer among women fell the fastest.
“This is largely due to decreases in lung and other smoking-related cancers,” McDonough said. “But the news isn’t all good. Rates from cancer associated with obesity are on the rise. These include cancers of the breast, uterus, kidney, and pancreas.
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Indeed, the new data indicates that rates of new cancer cases increased at sites associated with excess body weight. It also said the reduction in fertility rates, advancing age at first birth, and rises in obesity and alcohol consumption are likely driving rising rates of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
“The take home message is don't smoke and do all you can to maintain a healthy weight,” said McDonough.
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