All the Ways We Care: Good News in the Fight Against Cancer

Declines in cancer death rates continue thanks to more screenings, better technology.

At main street hospital, we’re on the front lines in the fight against cancer, providing the medical expertise and imaging technology for the detection, diagnosis and treatment of the second most common cause of death in the United States.

According to a recent report by the American Cancer Society, the death rate from cancer has decreased an amazing 23 percent since its peak in 1991. To put that decrease in more dramatic terms, more than 1.7 million cancer deaths were averted from 1991 to 2012*. There are three main reasons for this remarkable decrease: fewer people are smoking, improvements in the treatment of cancer, and the success of early-detection screenings of cancer.

Here’s a look at the progress that’s been made and the screening recommendations for the most common forms of cancer in women.

Breast Cancer

• The death rate for female breast cancer has decreased an amazing 36% since it peaked in 1989.

Screening Recommendation

• As a general rule, women should start having a mammogram screening starting at age 45. (see the “Live It Out” article).

Lung Cancer

• In women, the death rate for lung cancer — the leading cause of cancer death among women — dropped 13% from 2002 to 2012.

Screening Recommendation

• A yearly lung screening using a low-dose CT-scan is recommended for women who have a history of heavy smoking (either smoke now or have only quit within the past 15 years) and are between 55 and 80 years old.

Cervical Cancer

• During the past 30 years, the death rate for cervical cancer in women has decreased by more than 50%, thanks to increased use of the Pap test: a recent study found that only 11% of women are not being screened regularly.

Screening Recommendation

Have a Pap test starting at age 21 according to the following schedule.

• Women under age 21 Pap test every three years, but no HPV test unless the Pap test is abnormal.
• women ages 30 to 65: The preferred approach is to have a Pap test AND an HPV test every five years. You can also have the Pap test alone every three years.
• women older than 65: Testing should stop if previous tests have been normal. Women diagnosed with pre-cervical cancer should continue to be screened.

Colon (Colorectal) Cancer

• Colon cancer death rates have dropped a remarkable 30% in the last 10 years in men and women 50 and older, largely due to increased screening.
• The use of a colonoscopy, the most common screening test, increased from 19% in 2000 to 55% in 2013 among adults ages 50-75.
• Still, 60% of adults over age 50 are not up to date with their screening.

Screen Recommendations

• A colonoscopy every 10 years or a virtual colonoscopy every five years to check for colorectal cancer.

Ovarian Cancer

• The death rate from ovarian cancer declined 18% from 1992 to 2011.

Screen Recommendations

• A pelvic exam by a healthcare professional can be helpful, but many tumors are difficult if not impossible to find, even by a skilled practitioner. There are two screening tests available—a transvaginal ultrasound and a CA 125 blood test—but neither is considered completely reliable.

Uterine (Endometrial) Cancer

• Uterine cancer is one of the few cancers where the number of cases is increasing. The rise of obesity is considered one of the primary causes of this increase.

Screen Recommendations

• Unfortunately, the symptoms of uterine cancer are often not detected until the disease has advanced. See your doctor if you have vaginal bleeding, spotting, discharge. pelvic pain unexpected weight loss.

* the last year in which data is available. Sources: American Cancer Society, National Center for Biotechnology Information, CDC