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education First recorded drop of cancer deaths in U.S. credited to lifesaving screenings For the first time ever in recorded history, there has been a drop in the number of Americans dying from cancer! This exciting news was recently published in the 2006 edition of the Society's Cancer Facts and Figures. The report shows that 369 fewer people died from cancer in 2003 than they did in 2002. One of the reasons for this drop is that more people know and understand the importance of the Society's cancer screening guidelines, so they are catching their cancer early before it becomes a terminal diagnosis.  "It's important to follow the guidelines because it really helps you with early detection," says Bernadette Darns-Jackson (shown right) of Southfield, Michigan. "Early detection, for me, is the key to being a survivor." Bernadette found her cancer early with a mammogram and survived. She has been cancer free for over three years.
Gwen Traylor (shown below left) from Detroit, Michigan, also wants everyone to know the importance of following the Society's screening guidelines. "I probably wouldn't even be here had I not taken the steps to do what I needed to do to take care of my health," admits Gwen who was also diagnosed with breast cancer after seeing her doctor. Sometimes the fear of a cancer diagnosis stops a person from scheduling screening appointments, but to Gwen that is backwards thinking: "I would be afraid not to know. If there's gonna be fear, have the fear of not knowing. It can save your life! If you don't want to do it for you, do it for your loved ones! They want you here!"  "Cancer knows no race, creed, color, or age. Cancer is just cancer and it can affect anyone," she says. "Go get your checkups! Take charge of your life, it's yours!"
The cancer mortality rate has been dropping by about one percent since the early 1990s. A mortality rate is different than the actual number of cancer deaths because the rate takes into account how many people are in the area so that numbers can be compared from place to place, or year to year. A drop in mortality rates is good news, but less Americans dying from cancer is a milestone. Americans are living longer, so more people have cancer because it is a disease that you have a higher risk of getting as you age. The American population is also growing. With more people in the population that are at high risk for cancer and more people in general, we would expect the number of people dying from cancer would increase. But it didn't--it dropped! And that's why this finding is so significant. Help us work towards maintaining this drop in cancer deaths. Read the American Cancer Society's screening guidelines and take a proactive approach to your health. You can also visit the Society's Dr. Len's Cancer Blog, or online journal, at www.cancer.org/drlen to read more about our drop in cancer deaths and other cancer topics. Other articles in VOICES this month community focus: volunteers help drive patients |
community focus: local networking supports Relay For Life |
survivorship and patient services: survivor recommends Society resources |
research: celebrating 60 years of progress |
advocacy: statewide efforts have impact |
advocacy: investigating Medicare Part D |
local area spotlight: Society staff reach migrant workers |
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