Article
More Than 1.5 Million Cancer Deaths Averted in Last 2 Decades
Rates of cancer deaths have declined 22% over the last 2 decades, which amounts to 1.5 million deaths averted, according to the annual cancer statistics report from the American Cancer Society.
Rates of cancer deaths have declined 22% over the last 2 decades, according to the annual cancer statistics report from the American Cancer Society. The 1.5 million cancer deaths averted can be attributed to earlier detection, better screening practices, improved treatments, and lower rates of smoking.
The report, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, is based on the most recent data from the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and mortality figures from the National Center for Health Statistics.
However, not only is cancer still a leading killer, but the improvement has varied across the country with some regions faring far better than others. Southern states showed the lowest decline in mortality rates, while the Northeast region had the greatest improvement.
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