Since the early 1980s, breast cancer rates have been on the increase. But according to the "Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2003", released in 2006, annual breast cancer rates showed no increase between the years 2001-2003. Many researchers and doctors feel hopeful about this news, but authors of the report and other experts warn that rates need to be followed for the next several years to determine if these findings represent a valid and lasting trend.
The report, which is a collaboration between the American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control, the National Cancer Institute, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, states that the incidence of new diagnoses of breast cancer decreased by 0.4 percent per year between 1999-2003 and decreased 4.8 percent between 2001-2003. In addition, death rates from breast cancer decreased from 1995-2003 in Latinas, white, and black women; and remained the same in Asian Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native women. The overall rate of breast cancer deaths decreased approximately 1.4 percent per year between 1999-2003.
Reasons Unclear
While it is clear that the rate of lung cancer in men is in part decreasing because of less tobacco use among men, it is less clear why breast cancer rates might be declining in women. The authors state that trends in cancer rates are important to follow to understand what leads to improvement so that the public can be made aware of what is working in terms of preventive measures and screening tests.
The report also states that rates of colon, rectal, uterine, ovarian, oral, stomach and cervical cancers have decreased in women during the time period of the report. The incidence of thyroid, bladder, melanoma, leukemia, lung and kidney cancer, however, have increased for women.
Despite encouraging news in the report, cancer of the breast, lung, and colon and rectum continue to be the three leading causes of cancer death from 1999-2003 for women, and the incidence of all cancers combined for women increased from 1979-2003. Women are living longer after their diagnoses of cancer, but more women are being diagnosed with cancer overall.
What You Can Do
Lifestyle behaviors, screening tests, accessibility to insurance and screening tests, might all affect the rates of cancer in this country. Breast cancer is also a disease that might be caused and/or influenced by many variables including family history, age of first pregnancy, obesity, the environment, and use of hormone therapy. All women should see their doctor to discuss their risk factors for breast and other cancers and find out what screening tests are appropriate for their age group and their medical history. |
