According to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the death rate from colon cancer continue to plummet in the United States.
During the periods in-between 2003 and 2007, the amount of newly developed cases of colon cancer dipped from 52.3 per every 100,000 people to 45.4 – a substantial decrease. Essentially, the decline indicated that there were 66,000 fewer cases of the disease. Further, the death rate from colon cancer fell from 19 per every 100,000 people to 16.8, meaning that 32,000 less people died from the disease.
"Colon cancer can be prevented," CDC Director Dr. Thomas R. Frieden said during a noon press conference Tuesday. "Screening is highly effective."
"By preventing colon cancer, we can help people live longer, healthier, more productive lives while reducing health-care costs," he added.
"I turned 50 a few months ago and I do have a strong family history of colorectal cancer, so I did have a colonoscopy at age 40," he told reporters. "It was normal. At age 50, I had another colonoscopy. I had four polyps -- two of them large -- all of them removed before they became cancerous."
He added, "If I hadn't had colon cancer screening, I could well be dead in another 10 or 15 years. I anticipate that I will never have colon cancer, because I will continue to get follow-ups. I hope every American has the ability to access and take advantage of colon cancer screening."
Vital Signs: Colorectal Cancer Screening, Incidence, and Mortality -- United States, 2002-2010, was published in the July 5 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
