Colorectal Cancer Leads Decline in Cancer Death Rates

Cancer death rates fell by about 2.1% per year from 2002 to 2004, compared with a 1.1% per year decline from 1993 though 2002, according to annual report to the nation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and the North american Association of Central Cancer Registries.


(Running time: appx. 6 minutes)

ATLANTA, Oct. 15 -- Cancer death rates fell by about 2.1% per year from 2002 to 2004, compared with a 1.1% per year decline from 1993 though 2002, according to annual report to the nation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and the North american Association of Central Cancer Registries. Breast cancer mortality declined by 3.5% per year form 2001 to 2004 and the decline in colorectal cancer mortality was even more dramatic--a drop of more than 4% percent each year from 2002 to 2004. In this exclusive report, MedPage Today Executive Editor Peggy Peck discusses this latest cancer report card with Allen S. Lichter M.D., executive vice president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.