Cancer Death Rates: USA

All cancer Death rates combined have been decreasing since the early 1990s. Death rates decreased for 11 of the top 15 cancers in men and eight of the top 15 cancers in women. Lung cancer deaths rates among women leveled off for the first time between 1995 and 2001, after continuously increasing for many decades.

Among men, cancer incidence rates have recently declined for seven of the top 15 cancer sites: lung, colon, oral cavity, leukemia, stomach, pancreas and larynx. Incidence rates increased only for melanoma and cancers of the prostate, kidney and esophagus.

For the first time, lung cancer incidence rates among women are on the decline. Incidence rates decreased for five additional cancers out of the top 15 in women (colon, cervix, pancreas, ovary, and oral cavity). Only breast, thyroid, bladder, kidney cancer and melanoma rates are rising among women.

Source: "Annual Report to the Nation" is collaboration among the American Cancer Society (ACS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR). It provides updated information on cancer rates and trends in the United States.

Cancer Death Rates: Canada

Canadian Cancer Statistics 2004 show, in general, the incidence and death age-standardized rates for the majority of cancer sites have stabilized or declined during the past decade. “What this means is that a person's individual risk of developing or dying of cancer has not changed significantly,” says Heather Logan, Director, Cancer Control Policy, Canadian Cancer Society.

• Among women, since 1989 cancer incidence rates have risen slightly (due largely to lung cancer and breast cancer) and death rates have declined slightly.
• Since 1993, incidence rates for breast cancer have stabilized and death rates have declined steadily since 1990. The breast cancer death rate is at its lowest since 1950. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women.
• Incidence rates continue to decline for: cervical, ovarian and laryngeal cancer among women; cancers of the larynx and lung among men; and stomach cancer for both men and women.

Death rate declines have occurred in: cervical, ovarian and pancreatic cancer among women; oral, pancreatic, laryngeal and lung cancer among men; and stomach cancer among both men and women.

Source: The Canadian Cancer Society Media Release