Changing trends.

Dr. Rosenthal, President of the American Cancer Society, notes that in this year's annual cancer statistics article, for the first time a favorable change in direction is reported. The data document a reduction in the total number of new cancer cases and declining cancer death rates in the United States. In addition, 5-year survival rates continue to improve for most cancers. Nevertheless, some areas still need further attention, such as the differences in survival statistics between African Americans and whites and the more favorable decline in mortality among men than among women.