Press Release: NCI on Declining Cancer Incidence

[Mike Grissom <mikeg@SLAC.Stanford.EDU>]

Radsafers,

Since any discussion of low-level radiation effects has to
consider the background rates of the key cancers believed
to be associated, the following news item may be of general
interest (may be viewed in its entirety on the Web at the
URL shown).

  http://rex.nci.nih.gov/INTRFCE_GIFS/MASSMED_INTR_DOC.htm

Have a good weekend,

MikeG.

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National Cancer Institute
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE
6:00 p.m. EST
Thursday, March 12, 1998
FOR RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES
  Joann Schellenbach (ACS)
  (212) 382-2169
  Kara Smigel (NCI)
  (301) 496-6641
  Sandra Smith (CDC)
  (301) 436-7551
Press Release

    New Report on Declining Cancer Incidence and Death Rates;
          Report Shows Progress in Controlling Cancer

WASHINGTON, March 12, 1998 -- Cancer incidence and death rates for
all cancers combined and for most of the top 10 cancer sites
declined between 1990 and 1995, reversing an almost 20-year trend
of increasing cancer cases and deaths in the United States,
according to the latest cancer report from the American Cancer
Society (ACS), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"Cancer Incidence and Mortality, 1973-1995: A Report Card for the
United States," is published in the March 15, 1998, issue of the
journal CANCER, and findings were presented today at a news
briefing by the ACS, NCI, and CDC to report to the nation on
progress related to cancer prevention and control. The report is
based on incidence data from NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology and
End Results (SEER) Program and mortality data from CDC's National
Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

In November 1996, the ACS, NCI and CDC announced the first
sustained decline in the cancer death rate, a turning point from
the steady increase observed throughout much of the century. At
that time, the three agencies pledged to collaborate to further
reduce cancer death rates throughout the country and to make
regular reports to the nation on the progress against cancer.

The new report shows that after increasing 1.2 percent per year
from 1973 to 1990, the incidence rate (rate of new cases) for all
cancers combined declined an average of 0.7 percent per year from
1990 to 1995, with the greatest decrease occurring after 1992, the
year in which incidence rates peaked. The report shows that
incidence rates declined for most age groups, for both men and
women, and for most racial and ethnic groups, with the exception
of black males for whom the incidence rate increased and Asian and
Pacific Islander females whose rates remained level.

The overall cancer death rates declined on average by about 0.5
percent per year during 1990-95. The decline in mortality was
greater for men than for women. Almost all racial and ethnic
groups are included in this downturn, except for Asian and Pacific
Islander females.

"We realize that the declines in cancer incidence and deaths have
not been seen for all Americans and that our collective efforts
must be directed at reaching populations with a disproportionate
cancer burden," said James S. Marks, M.D., director, National
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC.

The report shows trends in 23 cancer sites. During 1990-95, the
four leading cancer sites were lung, prostate, breast and
colon-rectum, which account for over half of newly diagnosed cases.
These four sites were also the top causes of cancer death.

Both the rate of new lung cancer cases and lung cancer deaths are
rising for women, in contrast to a drop in both incidence and
mortality for men.

After increasing rapidly from 1973-90, breast cancer incidence was
level from 1990 to 1995. Mortality, also previously on the rise,
has dropped over the past five years, but only for white and
Hispanic women. Breast cancer death rates remained level for black
women and may be on the rise for Asian and Pacific Islander women.

Prostate cancer incidence declined from 1990 to 1995 for white men
and more recently for black men as well. Death rates from prostate
cancer have decreased for all except Hispanic men. For cancer of
the colon and rectum both incidence and mortality have declined for
both males and females.

For many of the other top 10 cancer sites, both incidence and
mortality declined from 1990-95 after almost 20 years of increasing
rates. However, both incidence and mortality from non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma and melanoma skin cancer are on the rise. The previous
decline in uterine cancer incidence has leveled off.

"These numbers are the best proof that we're on the right track,"
said Richard Klausner, M.D., director, National Cancer Institute.
"However, it is not a time for complacency. This is a time to
rededicate and redouble our efforts."

"We must seize the opportunity to build, and build significantly,
on this trend," agreed John R. Seffrin, Ph.D., chief executive
officer of the American Cancer Society. "The rate of this downturn
must be accelerated by better collaboration and coordination of our
work, and elimination of duplication and overlap."

Incidence data in the report are based on new cases reported to
selected state-wide and key metropolitan area cancer registries and
mortality data are tabulated from 100 percent of death certificates
filed in state vital statistics offices and compiled for the nation
by NCHS/CDC. These data sources permit regular and consistent
monitoring and provide the information necessary for cancer
prevention and research.

The ACS, NCI and CDC expect to continue monitoring the occurrence
of cancer in the United States and collaborating in presenting this
data to the nation. The authors of this year's report card are
Phyllis A. Wingo, Ph.D., MS, (ACS); Lynn A.G. Ries, MS, and Brenda
K. Edwards, Ph.D., (NCI); Harry M. Rosenberg, Ph.D., (National
Center for Health Statistics, CDC), and Daniel S. Miller, M.D.,
MPH, (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion, CDC).

For more information:

	American Cancer Society:

		http://www.cancer.org

	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

		http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dcpc

			or

		http://www.cdc.gov/nchswww

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