Number of U.S. Cancer Deaths Increased by More Than 5,400 in 2005, American Cancer Society Report Finds

The number of U.S. cancer deaths increased by more than 5,400 to 559,312 between 2004 and 2005, but the mortality rate from the disease decreased by about 1% to 184 deaths per 100,000 from about 186 deaths per 100,000, according to a report released on Wednesday by the American Cancer Society, the AP/Austin American-Statesman reports. According to the report, the decrease in the cancer mortality rate translates to more than 500,000 avoided deaths from the disease since the early 1990s.

The cancer mortality rate has continued to decrease since the early 1990s -- by 18% for men and 10% for women -- although the number of deaths from the disease has continued to increase because of the growing population. However, in 2003 and 2004, the number of cancer deaths decreased.

ACS officials said that they did not have an explanation for the reversal of the trend. Some experts said that cancer screenings possibly "are not having as big an effect as they were a few years ago," the AP/American-Statesman reports. ACS officials also raised concerns that cancer deaths might increase as more U.S. residents lose health insurance and undergo fewer screenings for the disease (Stobbe, AP/Austin American-Statesman, 2/20).

The report is available online.