Cancer Rates In Focus

Cancer deaths in the United States have dropped for a second straight year, according to a report conducted by the American Cancer Society. Health officials credit the decline to a decrease in smoking and earlier detection of tumors.

What Are The New Findings?

Cancer deaths dropped to 553,888 in 2004, down from 556,902 in 2003 and 557,271 in 2002, the American Cancer Society found.

In 2003 and 2004, the cancer death rate declined by about 2 percent each year more than offsetting the effects of aging and population growth. The Cancer Society also projected how many cancer cases and deaths will occur this year more than 1.4 million new cases, and 559,650 deaths.

What Was The Largest Drop?

The largest drop in deaths among the major cancers was in colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer deaths dropped by 1,110 in men and by 1,094 in women.

What Are Breast Cancer Rates?

The number of breast cancer cases in the U.S. has leveled off in recent years, according to the American Cancer Society. In 2007, 178,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected. Breast cancer death rates have been dropping steadily since 1990, the report says, because of earlier detection and better treatments. About 40,910 breast cancer deaths are expected in 2007.

Which Cancer Resulted In The Most Deaths?

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer remains the top cancer killer among both men and women, the report shows. Around 160,390 deaths are expected in 2007. About 213,380 people are expected to develop lung cancer. Incidence and death rates among women have flattened in recent years, but fewer men are getting lung cancer or dying from it.

To Learn More About The Study:

• The American Cancer Society has more information.

• Click here to read more statistics about the number of cancer cases and deaths.

• You can read more about the different types of cancers and how to treat them through a CBSNews.com interactive.

• Although new treatments are constantly being tested, there are six methods that are commonly used for cancer treatment, according to the National Cancer Institute. You can read more about them here.