Cancer now the top killer of Americans

Vance · 01-22-2005, 06:45 PM

For the first time, cancer has surpassed heart disease as the top killer of Americans under 85, health officials said Wednesday. The good news is that deaths from both are falling, but improvement has been more dramatic for heart disease.
"It's dropping fast enough that another disease is eclipsing it," said Dr. Walter Tsu, president of the American Public Health Association.

The single biggest reason: fewer smokers.

The news is contained in the American Cancer Society's annual statistical report, released Wednesday. In 2002, the most recent year for which information is available, 476,009 Americans under 85 died of cancer compared with 450,637 who died of heart disease.

That trend actually began in 1999, but "this is the first time we've looked at this by age," said Ahmedin Jemal, a cancer society epidemiologist and main author of the report.

Those under 85 comprise 98.4% of the population, said Dr. Eric Feuer, chief of statistical research for the National Cancer Institute who also worked on the report.

That means that only the very oldest Americans continue to die of heart disease more than of cancer, a trend that is expected to reverse by 2018, said Dr. Harmon Eyre, the cancer society's longtime chief medical officer.

"This is a situation in which neither one of us wants to be No. 1" because far more deaths could be prevented, said Dr. Rose Marie Robertson, chief scientific officer of the American Heart Association.

A third of all cancers are related to smoking, and another third are related to obesity, poor diets and lack of exercise — all factors that also contribute to heart disease.

"We want to send the message: Don't smoke, eat right, exercise and maintain normal weight, and see your doctor for normal checkups," Eyre said.

Smoking among adults fell dramatically between 1965 and 2000, from 42% to 22%. Federal goals are to cut the rate to 12% by 2010.

Heart disease sufferers also have benefited from better surgical techniques and devices and from better drugs to treat heart problems and control factors like high blood pressure, Eyre said.

Cancer death rates have declined about 1% per year since 1999, thanks to earlier detection, prevention efforts and better treatments, experts said.

Deaths from colon cancer and from lung cancer in men are particularly striking.

"They're dropping so fast that they exceed the impact of aging," which increases the likelihood of developing cancer, Eyre said.

The drop in colon cancer is because of screening, which finds and removes growths called polyps before they turn cancerous. Still, about half of people for whom testing is recommended don't get checked.

In women, cancer incidence has leveled off for the first time after several years of rising.

"The lung cancer epidemic has peaked in women and we're likely to see stabilization of rates or a decline from this point on," said Dr. Elizabeth Ward, director of surveillance research for the cancer society.

Other highlights:

• An estimated 1,372,910 new cancer cases and 570,260 cancer deaths are expected this year. Five-year survival rates have risen from 50% in the 1970s to 74% today.

• Lung cancer remains the biggest killer, projected to claim 163,510 lives this year.

• Some 232,090 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and it will kill 30,350.

• About 211,240 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and it will kill 40,410.

The report also highlights cancers caused by germs — 1.5 million cases or 26% of cancers in developing countries; and 360,000 cases or 7.3% of cancers in developed countries like the United States.

These are mostly liver cancer, caused by the hepatitis B and C viruses; cervical cancer, caused by human papillomavirus; stomach cancer caused by H. pylori bacteria; and AIDS-related cancers caused by infection with HIV.

"Many of them are highly preventable," especially through vaccines for hepatitis and a soon-anticipated vaccine for papillomavirus, Ward said.

Tsou, of the public health association, said the task for the future is clear: "We know a lot about how to treat cancer but we need to know more about how to prevent the disease in the first place."

The cancer society's Eyre agreed.

"In cardiovascular disease, there has been a better recognition of preventable precursors," such as smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure, he said.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/...r-deaths_x.htm

Wow. Just.. wow.

WBHarley · 01-22-2005, 07:05 PM

your right...

just wow...

My son has cancer (Brain Tumor) but he is recovering Magatsu, I often read medicals if I see anything changes etc.. Like i said in grapefruit topic I watch out on his medications which he can't have grapefruit or so but One of meds were Vinscritine...

As for Colon caner My grandmother had one she died.. Heart in my family also affect.. I have been going see doc about my health too since my son's time with boston is getting less after this Monday's last shot of Vinscrintine..

Wendy

Nancy · 01-22-2005, 07:23 PM

I believe it because:

1. My 2nd cousin is now in remission of Non-Hodgkin's Disease (a kind of cancer).
2. One of her sons is now in remission from cancer (and he's only in his teens!).
3. My grandfather and his brother (my great-uncle) both survived prostate cancer.
4. My great-grandmother died of colon cancer.
5. My grandfather (see #3) had a sister (my great-aunt) who died of a form of cancer ( I think it was stomach cancer).
6. Another 2nd cousin of mine died of breast cancer (she's #5's (great-aunt) daughter) when she was only in her early 50s.

I also knew other people not related to me who had cancer, like one of the top bosses in one of the workplaces I used to go to, she had brain cancer and passed away.

Nancy

Vance · 01-22-2005, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WBHarley

My son has cancer (Brain Tumor) but he is recovering Magatsu, I often read medicals if I see anything changes etc.. Like i said in grapefruit topic I watch out on his medications which he can't have grapefruit or so but One of meds were Vinscritine...

I haven't check that topic but will do that. Glad that your son is recovering!

Quote:

Originally Posted by WBHarley

As for Colon caner My grandmother had one she died.. Heart in my family also affect.. I have been going see doc about my health too since my son's time with boston is getting less after this Monday's last shot of Vinscrintine..

Sorry to hear that

Any relatives in my family don't have have any kind of cancers... so far, we don't. Only 'bad' condition one of my relative had, gall stone. I hope none of us included you and other AD'ers will not have any kind of cancers.

Vance · 01-22-2005, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy

I believe it because:

1. My 2nd cousin is now in remission of Non-Hodgkin's Disease (a kind of cancer).
2. One of her sons is now in remission from cancer (and he's only in his teens!).
3. My grandfather and his brother (my great-uncle) both survived prostate cancer.
4. My great-grandmother died of colon cancer.
5. My grandfather (see #3) had a sister (my great-aunt) who died of a form of cancer ( I think it was stomach cancer).
6. Another 2nd cousin of mine died of breast cancer (she's #5's (great-aunt) daughter) when she was only in her early 50s.

I also knew other people not related to me who had cancer, like one of the top bosses in one of the workplaces I used to go to, she had brain cancer and passed away.

Nancy

o_O wow. That's many... Sorry to hear about that. I hope whoever survived the cancers will be ok and able to do anything they want to do.

Beowulf · 01-22-2005, 07:57 PM

It is shocking that so many people are getting cancer through no faults of their own. I think far too many people have the impression that if someone gets cancer, well then, he/she must have done something to get it in the first place.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
I have met Sean, WBHarley's fantastic son, and he is a true little soldier. He does not complain or whine about his tumor, and he utterly melts my heart.
The last time I saw him, last summer, I dared him to ride his bike far up and down a bumpy dirt road, and he promptly did it. Everyone was amazed, but I was not. That is Sean.

Vance · 01-22-2005, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beowulf

I think far too many people have the impression that if someone gets cancer, well then, he/she must have done something to get it in the first place.
Nothing could be further from the truth.

That's entirely true.. cancer cannot form on its own without any kind of 'causality'.

Cool about Sean. Sounds like he is really brave guy.

WBHarley · 01-22-2005, 08:15 PM

Yes Magatsu

Few very few people met my kids

Wish Malfoyish Met my two other kids but Someday when we are in NY i will make sure all Threee kids with us..

I do have another friend who lives in PineCity soo I wanna see her bofore we Move apart again! lol..

boy.. Yes Beuwolf did! sean showed him that he's strong guy!

Wendy *waiting for my husband to go outside to shovel since my daughter want to help that I GOT TO TAKE A PICTURE

*

01-22-2005, 06:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Vance Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 4,280	Cancer now the top killer of Americans For the first time, cancer has surpassed heart disease as the top killer of Americans under 85, health officials said Wednesday. The good news is that deaths from both are falling, but improvement has been more dramatic for heart disease. "It's dropping fast enough that another disease is eclipsing it," said Dr. Walter Tsu, president of the American Public Health Association. The single biggest reason: fewer smokers. The news is contained in the American Cancer Society's annual statistical report, released Wednesday. In 2002, the most recent year for which information is available, 476,009 Americans under 85 died of cancer compared with 450,637 who died of heart disease. That trend actually began in 1999, but "this is the first time we've looked at this by age," said Ahmedin Jemal, a cancer society epidemiologist and main author of the report. Those under 85 comprise 98.4% of the population, said Dr. Eric Feuer, chief of statistical research for the National Cancer Institute who also worked on the report. That means that only the very oldest Americans continue to die of heart disease more than of cancer, a trend that is expected to reverse by 2018, said Dr. Harmon Eyre, the cancer society's longtime chief medical officer. "This is a situation in which neither one of us wants to be No. 1" because far more deaths could be prevented, said Dr. Rose Marie Robertson, chief scientific officer of the American Heart Association. A third of all cancers are related to smoking, and another third are related to obesity, poor diets and lack of exercise — all factors that also contribute to heart disease. "We want to send the message: Don't smoke, eat right, exercise and maintain normal weight, and see your doctor for normal checkups," Eyre said. Smoking among adults fell dramatically between 1965 and 2000, from 42% to 22%. Federal goals are to cut the rate to 12% by 2010. Heart disease sufferers also have benefited from better surgical techniques and devices and from better drugs to treat heart problems and control factors like high blood pressure, Eyre said. Cancer death rates have declined about 1% per year since 1999, thanks to earlier detection, prevention efforts and better treatments, experts said. Deaths from colon cancer and from lung cancer in men are particularly striking. "They're dropping so fast that they exceed the impact of aging," which increases the likelihood of developing cancer, Eyre said. The drop in colon cancer is because of screening, which finds and removes growths called polyps before they turn cancerous. Still, about half of people for whom testing is recommended don't get checked. In women, cancer incidence has leveled off for the first time after several years of rising. "The lung cancer epidemic has peaked in women and we're likely to see stabilization of rates or a decline from this point on," said Dr. Elizabeth Ward, director of surveillance research for the cancer society. Other highlights: • An estimated 1,372,910 new cancer cases and 570,260 cancer deaths are expected this year. Five-year survival rates have risen from 50% in the 1970s to 74% today. • Lung cancer remains the biggest killer, projected to claim 163,510 lives this year. • Some 232,090 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and it will kill 30,350. • About 211,240 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and it will kill 40,410. The report also highlights cancers caused by germs — 1.5 million cases or 26% of cancers in developing countries; and 360,000 cases or 7.3% of cancers in developed countries like the United States. These are mostly liver cancer, caused by the hepatitis B and C viruses; cervical cancer, caused by human papillomavirus; stomach cancer caused by H. pylori bacteria; and AIDS-related cancers caused by infection with HIV. "Many of them are highly preventable," especially through vaccines for hepatitis and a soon-anticipated vaccine for papillomavirus, Ward said. Tsou, of the public health association, said the task for the future is clear: "We know a lot about how to treat cancer but we need to know more about how to prevent the disease in the first place." The cancer society's Eyre agreed. "In cardiovascular disease, there has been a better recognition of preventable precursors," such as smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure, he said. Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/...r-deaths_x.htm Wow. Just.. wow.

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01-22-2005, 07:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
WBHarley Multitaskin' Wanderin'Mom Join Date: May 2003 Location: Somewhere Posts: 1,368	your right... just wow... My son has cancer (Brain Tumor) but he is recovering Magatsu, I often read medicals if I see anything changes etc.. Like i said in grapefruit topic I watch out on his medications which he can't have grapefruit or so but One of meds were Vinscritine... As for Colon caner My grandmother had one she died.. Heart in my family also affect.. I have been going see doc about my health too since my son's time with boston is getting less after this Monday's last shot of Vinscrintine.. Wendy

01-22-2005, 07:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Nancy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Central FL Posts: 2,291	I believe it because: 1. My 2nd cousin is now in remission of Non-Hodgkin's Disease (a kind of cancer). 2. One of her sons is now in remission from cancer (and he's only in his teens!). 3. My grandfather and his brother (my great-uncle) both survived prostate cancer. 4. My great-grandmother died of colon cancer. 5. My grandfather (see #3) had a sister (my great-aunt) who died of a form of cancer ( I think it was stomach cancer). 6. Another 2nd cousin of mine died of breast cancer (she's #5's (great-aunt) daughter) when she was only in her early 50s. I also knew other people not related to me who had cancer, like one of the top bosses in one of the workplaces I used to go to, she had brain cancer and passed away. Nancy

01-22-2005, 07:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
Beowulf Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,020	It is shocking that so many people are getting cancer through no faults of their own. I think far too many people have the impression that if someone gets cancer, well then, he/she must have done something to get it in the first place. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have met Sean, WBHarley's fantastic son, and he is a true little soldier. He does not complain or whine about his tumor, and he utterly melts my heart. The last time I saw him, last summer, I dared him to ride his bike far up and down a bumpy dirt road, and he promptly did it. Everyone was amazed, but I was not. That is Sean.

01-22-2005, 08:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
WBHarley Multitaskin' Wanderin'Mom Join Date: May 2003 Location: Somewhere Posts: 1,368	Yes Magatsu Few very few people met my kids Wish Malfoyish Met my two other kids but Someday when we are in NY i will make sure all Threee kids with us.. I do have another friend who lives in PineCity soo I wanna see her bofore we Move apart again! lol.. boy.. Yes Beuwolf did! sean showed him that he's strong guy! Wendy waiting for my husband to go outside to shovel since my daughter want to help that I GOT TO TAKE A PICTURE