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education Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer The American Cancer Society joined the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Cancer Institute to formulate the "Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer." 
The annual report has presented trends of incidence and death rates of all major cancers since 1998. This year's report shows an encouraging long-term decline of death rates for both sexes and all races, beginning in the early 1990s through 2003."The findings of the Annual Report this year highlight the importance of our nation's investment in carefully tracking cancer incidence trends," said John Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society. "When there are changes in trends...researchers are alerted to look for the causes." This year's report had a special focus, detailing lower cancer rates in the U.S. Latino population. Latinos had lower incidence rates in most cancers, but showed higher rates for myeloma in females, as well as cancers of the kidney, liver, stomach, and cervix when compared to non-Latino white populations. However, Latino children had higher instances of leukemia, germ cell tumors, rentinoblastoma, and osteosarcoma in comparison to non-Latino white children. The report highlights several problems facing the Latino community in its fight against cancer, specifically: limited access to health care, reduced use of screening services, lack of insurance, and less information on genetic predispositions to certain types of cancer. "[The report] gives us a great baseline of where things are right now, so that we can see where we need to go in the future. We can address the actual needs of this specific community," said Voncile Brown-Miller, the area executive director of the American Cancer Society's Metro Detroit Area Service Center. From 1995-2003, cancer incidence rates in men have been relatively stable. Rates dropped for colon and rectum cancers, stomach and oral cancers, and lung cancer. However, rates increased for prostate cancer, leukemia, and cancers of the esophagus, liver, and kidney. In women, incidence rates increased from 1979-2003, but rates of breast cancer stabilized from 2001-2003. Rates decreased for colon and rectum cancers, uterine cancers, ovarian cancer, and oral, stomach, and cervical cancers. To reduce the burden of cancer in the United States, the report's authors advise an increase in screenings for early detection, more public access to state-of-the-art treatment devices, and reduction to exposure of cancer risk factors. The American Cancer Society will utilize this report to increase knowledge on cancer, as well as to lower incidence rates even further. To partner with the American Cancer Society in its ongoing fight against cancer, call 800-ACS-2345 or visit us on the web at www.cancer.org | |
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