PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The American Association for Cancer Research has good news. According to their latest report, more people in the United States are surviving cancer than ever before.
To put it in perspective: Back in 1971, there were 3 million cancer survivors in the United States. This year, the number is 18 million.
Another way to measure this improvement comes directly from the reports. The five-year cancer survival rate 50 years ago was 49%. Now it is 70%.
There are two major reasons for this success: the decline in the number of cigarette smokers and the increase in the number of screening methods.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
