Cancer death rates drop amid warnings about obesity

According to the annual report of the American Cancer Society, overall cancer death rates have fallen over the past two decades thanks to improvements in medical research and treatments, although researchers warn that obesity is a risk factor that could lead to an increase in cases of certain types of disease.

The report found that between 2015 and 2018, overall cancer death rates among men fell 2.3 percent per year, faster than the 1.8 percent decline recorded each year from 2001 to 2015.

Among women, cancer deaths declined 2.1 percent each year from 2015 to 2018, compared to 1.4 percent each year from 2001 to 2015.

The annual study providing an overview of the state of cancer across the country is conducted in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR).

Researchers specifically noted a drop in lung cancer and melanoma deaths from 2014 to 2018, which the CEO of the American Cancer Society Karen Knudsen attributed to “advancements across the cancer continuum – from reducing smoking rates to preventing cancer to discoveries such as targeted drug therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors.”

“As we celebrate progress, we must remain engaged in research, patient support and advocacy to make even more progress to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families,” Knudsen added in A declaration.

Despite the improvements, the study also noted a slowdown in previous downward trends in death rates from colorectal cancer and female breast cancer, and the death rate from prostate cancer stabilized.

The researchers said death rates had increased for a small group of cancers, including cancers of the pancreas, brain and other cancers of the nervous system in men and women, as well as cancers of the oral cavity and pharyngeal cancer in men and cancer of the liver and uterus in women.

Obesity has been cited as a major risk factor potentially influencing the increase in case and death rates or the deceleration of previous downward trends for colorectal and female breast cancers.

NCI Director Norman “Ned” Sharpless said in a statement: “I think we could get even more improvements if we tackle obesity, which has the potential to overtake smoking to become the main driver. modifiable factor associated with cancer. ”

Meanwhile, Betsy Kohler, executive director of the NAACCR, said more attention should also be paid to “assessing health disparities”, especially “social factors that influence the health of communities. and access to health care ”.

“Social and economic indicators, especially based on assessments of small areas, are increasingly important in understanding the burden of cancer,” Kohler said in a statement.