Garfinkel L, Mushinski M
American Cancer Society.
Stat Bull Metrop Insur Co. 1994 Jul-Sep;75(3):19-27.
Cancer mortality rates in the United States have stabilized in the past few years after rising for more than 50 years. Incidence and mortality rates for all cancers tend to be higher among men than women, among blacks than whites and among those over age 65. In 1994 cancer of the lung, prostate, breast, and colon/rectum (colorectal) will account for an estimated 57 percent of all new cancer cases and 55 percent of cancer deaths. Analysis of incidence, mortality and survival rates of these four major cancers indicate some encouraging trends. That is, even though age-adjusted incidence rates continue to increase, it appears that educational and screening efforts are having a positive influence on mortality rates. Lung cancer incidence has declined in recent years following a decrease in smoking among men that began some 20 years ago; evidence also indicates a start of a declining trend in their mortality from this disease, as well. Lung cancer incidence and mortality rates among women, however, continue to rise. In 1986 lung cancer became the leading cause of cancer deaths among women. Increased use and improved techniques of cancer detection for prostate, breast and colorectal cancers are resulting in larger numbers of these cancers being detected at early stages when they are more readily treatable. It is hoped that such activities will ultimately reduce mortality for these three major cancer sites.
在经历了50多年的上升之后，美国的癌症死亡率在过去几年中趋于稳定。所有癌症的发病率和死亡率在男性中往往高于女性，在黑人中高于白人，在65岁以上人群中高于其他年龄段。1994年，肺癌、前列腺癌、乳腺癌和结肠/直肠癌（结直肠癌）预计将占所有新癌症病例的57%，以及癌症死亡人数的55%。对这四种主要癌症的发病率、死亡率和生存率的分析显示出一些令人鼓舞的趋势。也就是说，尽管年龄调整后的发病率持续上升，但教育和筛查工作似乎对死亡率产生了积极影响。自大约20年前男性吸烟率下降以来，近年来肺癌发病率也随之下降；有证据表明，肺癌死亡率也开始呈现下降趋势。然而，女性的肺癌发病率和死亡率仍在继续上升。1986年，肺癌成为女性癌症死亡的主要原因。前列腺癌、乳腺癌和结直肠癌检测技术的更多应用和改进，使得更多此类癌症在早期更易于治疗时被发现。希望这些举措最终能够降低这三种主要癌症的死亡率。
