Encouraging fact from cancer statistics

[CPW]

We study cancer to get better at killing it. And here is an enouraging detail:
Since 1975, the cancer death rate in the United States has decreased by 21.9% with a 15% decrease from 2007 to 2017. (https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2017)

 

[BWV]

Wonder how much of that is simply attributable to the decline in smoking? Problem is these death rates don’t exist in isolation - so on one level improvements in treating other diseases that kill older people - like heart disease or diabetes will lead to an increase in cancer deaths, as everyone has to eventually die of something. You see this in developing countries as basic medical care and life expectancy improves, cancer deaths increase

https://images.app.goo.gl/eFVo31VxVdWH67TPA

 

[phyzguy]

Wonder how much of that is simply attributable to the decline in smoking? Problem is these death rates don’t exist in isolation - so on one level improvements in treating other diseases that kill older people - like heart disease or diabetes will lead to an increase in cancer deaths, as everyone has to eventually die of something. You see this in developing countries as basic medical care and life expectancy improves, cancer deaths increase

https://images.app.goo.gl/eFVo31VxVdWH67TPA

You're right that the decline in cigarette smoking is a large part of it, but these plots from the American Cancer Society show that other cancers not associated with smoking are declining as well as treatments improve.

 

[CPW]

Indeed. We have better cancer treatments today than even 20 years ago. That's something I'm grateful for when I consider cancer as a whole.

Related to lung cancer, I wonder if my friends that have moved their exercise routines indoors into a basement, due to the pandemic, will be at a higher risk of lung cancer due to radon. I think they should test before moving their cardio equipment to the basement.