Start of the New Year has brought good news regarding cancer: Death rates from the disease continue to fall. Кроме того, в то время как ставки уменьшились для населения в целом, отдельные группы населения также добились значительных успехов в снижении рискa смерти от рака.

“Between 1991 and 2010, overall cancer death rates have decreased by about 20 percent;  this translates to 1.3 million deaths in this time period,” lead author Ahmedin Jemal, vice president for surveillance and health services research at the ACS , told FoxNews.com. “But the most interesting finding is that the decrease in death rates was substantial, specifically for middle-aged black men.  Between 1991 and 2010, death rates decreased by 55 percent in middle-aged black men.”

Jemal attributed the improvement to both medical and behavioral changes that have occurred over the years.

“The decrease is primarily due to prevention, improvements in early detection and treatment,” Jemal said, “primarily in relation to smoking use, which has decreased by more than 50 percent over the past five decades.”

However, Jemal noted that there is still a long way to go.  Although smoking rates have dropped, lung cancer still remains one of the deadliest forms of the disease.  Lung, colon, prostate and breast cancers were found to be the most common causes of cancer death – with lung cancer responsible for one in four deaths.

“Yes we’re making progress, but there are still 20 percent of adults who smoke and over a third of adults are obese and 2/3 of adults are overweight,” Jemal said.  “We know that these are major risk factors for cancer.  People have to quit smoking … and maintain a healthy body weight and eat a healthy diet… These are really the things we should be doing.”