New numbers from the American Cancer Society show the overall cancer death rate has dropped significantly in the last few decades, but some cancers are still on the rise.
The report finds the overall death rate from cancer has gone down 20 percent from its peak in 1991. The drop is even greater for the big four -- breast, lung, colo-rectum and prostate cancer.
Health experts credit a decline in smoking, improvements in early detection of cancer, and improvements in treatments of cancer.
The report still expects more than a million new cancer cases this year and more than half a million cancer deaths. Death rates are still rising for some cancers, including melanoma, liver, thyroid, and pancreas.
The American Cancer Society says if the trends from 19-91 continued, 1.2 million more Americans would have died from cancer.
The report finds the overall death rate from cancer has gone down 20 percent from its peak in 1991. The drop is even greater for the big four -- breast, lung, colo-rectum and prostate cancer.
Health experts credit a decline in smoking, improvements in early detection of cancer, and improvements in treatments of cancer.
The report still expects more than a million new cancer cases this year and more than half a million cancer deaths. Death rates are still rising for some cancers, including melanoma, liver, thyroid, and pancreas.
The American Cancer Society says if the trends from 19-91 continued, 1.2 million more Americans would have died from cancer.
