After heart disease, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. The good news is that in the past 20 years, death rates for many cancers have decreased every year. For many cancers, this is due, in part, to improved treatments and better detection of early stage cancers.
A major factor though, is that smoking declined to about 14% of the adult population in 2018. In 1965, about 42% of adults in the US smoked. Lung cancer still accounts for the largest percentage of cancer deaths, and is responsible for 24% of all cancer deaths.
Some cancers, those associated with obesity, have been increasing. These include cancers of the liver, pancreas, and uterus.
Overall, good news for cancer patients!
Image Credit
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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