Cancer Stats Have Never Been Better

(CBS)  Better cancer detection, better treatments and fewer people smoking - all of these factors are driving cancer statistics that have never been better, CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports.

"For the first time in the history of this report, both the rate of cancers and the rate of cancer deaths are both declining significantly," said Robert Croyle, director of the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences at the National Cancer Institute.

The most common cancers have seen the most dramatic declines in new cases, according to an annual report by the NCI, the American Cancer Society and other groups.

"We're seeing decreases in prostate cancer at about a 4 percent decrease per year and in breast cancer at about 2 percent and colon cancer at a rate of 3 percent per year," he said.

In men, lung, prostate and colorectal cancer have dropped.

In women, breast and colorectal cancer are down - while lung cancer has leveled off.

But it's not all good news.

For example, rates have increased for cancers of the liver, kidney and esophagus. One likely reason? Obesity.

"We're concerned that obesity may be the tobacco of the 21st century," Croyle said.

Dr. Charles Lightdale treats esophageal cancer, and is concerned about obesity because it may increase acid reflux, which over time can cause cancer in the lining of the esophagus.

"Esophageal cancer is really rising extremely rapidly. The rate of acceleration is faster than any other cancer in the United States today," said Lightdale, a professor of clinical medicine at New York Presbyterian and Columbia University Medical Center.

After years of heartburn, 61-year-old Jim O'Beirne was recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

"I ate the wrong food. You know, not smart about watching what I was eating and it was just a result of overeating," O'Beirne said.

But his odds improved dramatically, because his symptoms led to early diagnosis.

"That's the key because if we detect it early, we can cure it," Lightdale said.

[pirmin3]

jamesm12341 asked oirmin3:
"why do you let government consume your life?

Why do you just bend over and spread ''em?? Oh, forgot. That''s the way the GOP likes it.

[drinuk]

Lady_Organs, You really are a stupid woman. So why is your God supporting Big Pharma and killing millions of people each year. So people who pray don''t die ? Who the F--- let you out of the loony bin ?

[lady_organs]

The liberal media refuses to say why cancer is down. Its due to more prayer being said by Americans. Prayer cures cancer.

[get_it_str8]

I''m dying from having my senses assaulted every day by propaganda and inuendo.

[pirmin3]

Since so many are without health insurance they can''t go to the doctor to get checked. Of course the rates drop just like the victims. Tax payers buy health insurance for the politicians.

[humanavance]

This report is utterly and completely false.

It only reports those covered by insurance, which very few can afford because of the Republicans and Democrats overt bribery by anyone with a hundred thousand or more. And the "medical industry" has billions to bribe them with.

For the average American citizen nothing has changed.

You get cancer, you die.

Now isn''t that sweet?

And just wait.

It gets better.

Obama won''t change anything, not even one iota.

He "cared" about "the people" before he was elected.

But now only cares about the billionaires who funded, and awarded, him office.

What a surprise.
ST

"May we be forgiven, by whoever can forgive such evil."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave

[guest173]

just a small comment about the obesity link to acid reflux, it may be a contributing factor, but my mother gets acid reflux and she is less than 100 pounds at 60 years of age. She does love spicy food though, which may contribute more than fat did.

[allzwell]

Posted by sincity_q at 09:16 PM : Nov 25, 2008

A valid point. 17 years ago I was given 5-10 years to live. The radiation and chemo was killing me... I never ever felt bad from the cancer, so I stopped the therapy and my doctor went wild. He''s dead, I''m still here, who''s right?

[allzwell]

Bogus! You can''t tell that by my Oncologists waiting room. I learned a long time ago, I''m a liability and on my own, we''re all sheep to be shorn in more ways than one.

[sincity_q]

I don''t buy it. I bury my brother tomorrow who died of lung cander 27 years AFTER his quit smoking.

The chemo ravaged his body far worse than the cancer and the doctor lied to the family until he was cornered and finally fessed up that he was terminal and had known for a long time. But all at the same time, he poured chemicals into him knowing it was hopless and made what was left of his life miserable.

I am forced to wonder how many cancer patients would be better off without the chemo and... how much of a kick back the docs get from the pharmacuitical industry for prescibing drugs that costs tens of thousands of dollars that are useless.