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New York – The rate of cancer has declined in the US.   This is the first time that this has happened since the United States government began documenting cancer cases and statistics. This is great news for Americans. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States of America.

Researchers think that the decline in the cancer rate is due to the fact that there are better cancer treatments for cancer patients. There is also evidence to prove that cancer prevention is improving. This could be because many people know the signs of cancer and go to see their doctors sooner for diagnosis.

The number of cancer patients who die is also on the decline. This offers hope to those cancer patients who think they have little chance for survival. Doctors do think that the cancer decline could be temporary. They think that many people who are baby boomers may soon develop cancer and increase the cancer rate.

Another concern is that the economic crisis may increase the cancer rate. Many people are losing their jobs and their health care insurance. If people are uninsured then they will not seek preventative care or go and see a doctor to be screened for cancer if a health issue arises.

The case rate dropped 0.8 % every year from 1999 through 2005. The rates of cancer in men dropped three times more than the cancer rates for women. However, American Indians and Alaskan natives did not see a decline in their overall cancer rates. The number of cancer related deaths dropped by 1.8 % every year from 199 through 2005.

Approximately 1.4 people are diagnosed with cancer ever year in the United States of America. Approximately five hundred and sixty thousand people die from cancer every year. The cancer rate decline is also due to a decrease in the number of new cases of the most common cancers. Those cancers are: lung cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. These cancers usually account for more than half of new cancer cases and deaths.

Some cancers are on the rise though. Men are facing more cases of liver cancer, kidney cancer, melanoma, non Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma, and cancer of the esophagus. Women are facing more cases of thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer, brain and nervous cancer, and leukemia.

Americans need to monitor any changes in their bodies. If you feel different or have an illness that will not go away then you should go and see a doctor. Early prevention and detection is the key to helping people treat cancer so that they do not die due to the disease. Hopefully, the cancer rate will continue to decline in the years to come.