Cancer death rates decline - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Cancer death rates decline

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JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -

The American Cancer Society estimates almost 16-thousand Mississippians will be diagnosed with cancer this year with over 6-thousand dying from the disease.

But overall, fewer people are dying from cancer each year.

A new report from the American Cancer Society reveals the overall cancer death rate dropped 20-percent between 1991 and 2009.

Deaths were down for all four major cancer sites - lung, colorectal, breast and prostate.

But these diseases were still responsible for almost half of cancer fatalities among men and women.

Experts credit a reduction in smoking as well as better detection and treatment methods for the decline.

Cancer deaths did increase for melanoma and cancers of the liver, thyroid and pancreas.

The report is called "American Cancer Society's annual Cancer Statistics Report'

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