CANCER

This year about 552,200 Americans are expected to die of cancer, more than 1,500 people a day. Cancer is
the second leading cause of death in the US, exceeded only by heart disease. In the US, 1 of 4 deaths is from
cancer. Nearly five million lives have been lost to cancer since 1990. In 2000, about 1,220,100 new cancer
cases are expected to be diagnosed.
                                                                                                    The American Cancer Society

For information on all types of cancer:

cancerfacts.com
American Cancer Society
National Cancer Institute

PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS

Some Facts About Prostate Cancer (PCa):

An estimated 198,100 new cases in the US during 2001. Prostate cancer incidence rates remain significantly higher in black men than in white men. Between 1988 and 1992, prostate cancer incidence rates increased dramatically, due to earlier diagnosis in men without any symptoms, through increased use of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Prostate cancer incidence rates subsequently declined and have leveled off. Rates peaked in 1992 among white men and in 1993 among black men.

An estimated 31,500 deaths in 2001, the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Although mortality rates are declining among white and black men, rates in black men remain more than twice as high as rates in white men.

 The American Cancer Society

Did you know that in some states, including my home state of Pennsylvania,
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month?

Did you know that Prostate Cancer Awareness stamps were available, but many post
offices didn't carry them because nobody requested them?  They are no longer available.


 

For further information about prostate cancer, click on the following:

Prostate Pointers
National Prostate Cancer Coalition

Special Thanks to Ken Richards

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

An estimated 192,200 new invasive cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2001. After increasing about 4% per year in the 1980s, breast cancer incidence rates may be continuing to increase slightly in white women. About 1,500 new cases of breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2001.

In addition to invasive breast cancer, 46,400 new cases of in situ breast cancer are expected to occur among women during 2001. Of these, approximately 88% will be ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). DCIS is removed to prevent progression to invasive disease. The increase in detection of DCIS cases is a direct result of increased use of mammography screening, which is also responsible for detection of invasive cancers, at a less advanced stage than might have occurred otherwise.

An estimated 40,600 deaths (40,200 women, 400 men) from breast cancer in 2001. Breast cancer ranks second among cancer deaths in women. According to the most recent data, mortality rates declined significantly during 1990-1997 with the largest decreases in younger women-both white and black. These decreases are probably the result of both earlier detection and improved treatment.

The American Cancer Society 

Did you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

Did you know that Breast Cancer Awareness stamps are still available?
Click on the picture below to order the stamps on-line.

For further information, click on the following sites.  They will take you to
many other sites about breast cancer.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Be Aware Monthly!
The Breast Cancer Site
(Click on this to site help fund free mammograms.)


 

LUNG CANCER


An estimated 169,500 new cases in 2001, accounting for 13% of cancer diagnoses. The incidence rate is declining significantly in men, from a high of 86.5 per 100,000 in 1984 to 69.1 in 1997. In the 1990s, the increasing trend among women leveled off with incidence rates near the 1997 rate of 43.1 per 100,000.

An estimated 157,400 deaths in 2001, accounting for 28% of all cancer deaths. During 1990-1997, mortality from lung cancer declined significantly among men (-1.7% per year) while rates for women continued to increase, but at a much slower pace. Since 1987, more women have died each year of lung cancer than breast cancer, which, for over 40 years, had been the major cause of cancer death in women. Decreasing lung cancer incidence and mortality rates most likely result from decreased smoking rates over the previous 30 years. However, decreasing smoking patterns among women lag behind those of men. Declines in adult tobacco use have slowed; tobacco use among youth increased considerably during the 1990s.

The American Cancer Society  

No Smoking...
PLEASE

American Lung Association

When you can't breathe, nothing else matters.

COLORECTAL CANCER

An estimated 135,400 cases in 2001, including 98,200 of colon cancer and 37,200 of rectal cancer. Colorectal cancers are the third most common cancers in men and women. Incidence rates declined -1.6% per year during 1985-1997. Research suggests that these declines may be due to increased screening and polyp removal, preventing progression of polyps to invasive cancers.

An estimated 56,700 deaths (48,100 from colon cancer, 8,600 from rectal cancer) in 2001, accounting for about 10% of cancer deaths. Mortality rates for colorectal cancer have also declined for men and women over the past 20 years. This decrease reflects the decreasing trend in incidence rates and improvements in survival rates.

The American Cancer Society 
There are no ribbons or stamps for this disease, but it is just as much a killer as those that are more publicized.

American Cancer Society

HOME