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

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. So it’s definitely good news to know we’re doing our part and making real progress in battling this all-too-common disease.

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, thanks to the decline in cancer death rates, more than 1.7 million cancer deaths were averted from 1991 to 2012, the last year in which data is available.

According to the American Cancer Society, 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 both the progress that’s been made and as well as the areas that need improvement in detecting and treating 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. For the specific guidelines recommended by the American Cancer Society, see the “Live It Out” article.

Lung Cancer

  • In women, the death rate for lung cancer dropped 13% between 2002 and 2012.
  • Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women.
Screening Recommendation
  • A yearly lung cancer 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%!
  • The main cause for this decline is the increased use of the Pap test: a recent study found that only 11% of women are not being screened regularly (at least every three years) for cervical cancer.
Screening Recommendation
  • Have a pap test starting at age 21 according to the following schedule.
  • Women under age 21 should not be tested.
  • Women ages 21 to 29: 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 your previous tests have been normal. Women who have been 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, mainly because more people are getting the recommended screening test.
  • The use of a colonoscopy, the most common test for colon cancer, increased from 19% in 2000 to 55% in 2013 among adults aged 50 to 75 years.
  • Still, more than 40% of adults over age 50 are not up to date with their screening test for colon cancer.
Screening Recommendation
  • 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.
  • Although it is only the eighth most common cancer in American women, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death, mainly because it is so hard to detect early.
Screening Recommendation
  • 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 Cancer

  • Uterine cancer is one of the few cancers where the number of cases is increasing.
  • The rise of obesity, which is a risk factor for the disease, is considered one of the primary causes of this increase.
Screening Recommendation
  • Unfortunately, the symptoms of uterine cancer are often not detected until the disease has advanced. So be sure to see your doctor if you have any vaginal bleeding, spotting or other discharge. Pelvic pain and losing weight without trying to can also be symptoms.

Sources: American Cancer Society, National Center for Biotechnology Information, CDC

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