Good News! Cancer Death Rates in the US Are Falling!

According to this recent article posted by Reuters, the American Cancer Society's annual report on cancer statistics shows a more than 1% drop in cancer death rates between the years of 2004 and 2008.  The report, released on Wednesday, also states that advances in screening and treatment have saved more than one million patients since the early '90s.  The biggest declines were among black men (2.4%) and Hispanic men (2.3%).  Death rates fell in the 4 most common cancers (Lung, Colon, Breast, and Prostate). 
Dr. Raymond DuBois, provost and executive vice president at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, stated that the rate of decline may be small, but it is significant as it has continued over the past 10 years of available data.  "It's not hitting the ball out of the park, but it had been going up several years prior to that. It's sign now that it is on the decline," DuBois said in a telephone interview with Reuters.

The report does have some bad news: there have been increases in 7 less common cancers, specifically Pancreatic, Liver, Thyroid, Kidney, Melanoma, Esophageal, and throat cancer associated with HPV (human papilomavirus).  Melanoma and throat cancers associated with HPV rose in whites only, and esophageal rose in whites and Hispanics.  While the reasoning for the increase isn't clear, researchers think early detection and obesity may play a role.

ACS projects 1.6 milion will be newly diagnosed and nearly 600,000 will die from cancer this year.  If you are like me and you think these number are STILL too high, you can FIGHT BACK by participating in Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3), which is a long-term study to better identify lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer. 

CPS-3 will take about 30 - 60 minutes. Study participation typically involves:

• reading and signing an informed consent form
• completing a survey
• providing a waist circumference measurement
• providing a small blood sample (similar to a doctor’s visit)

At home you will receive periodic follow-up surveys, which will ask for information on lifestyle, behaviors, and other factors related to your health. Participants will also receive annual newsletters about ongoing research from Cancer Prevention Studies.

Enrollment for this study is taking place at the following sites:

Emerson Hospital Open Enrollment
April 25, 2012
Emerson Hospital
Cheney Conference Room
133 Old Road to Nine Acre Corner
Concord, MA 01742
Enrollment Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
To schedule your appointment click here or call toll free, 888-604-5888 for more information.

Relay For Life of North Reading
May 18, 2012
North Reading High School
189 Park Street
North Reading, MA 01864
Enrollment Hours: 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Relay For Life of Attleboro
May 18, 2012
North Attleboro Middle School
564 Landry Avenue
North Attleboro, MA 02760
Enrollment Hours: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Relay For Life of Springfield
June 1, 2012
Springfield Community College - Blake Track
263 Alden Street
Springfield, MA 01109
Enrollment Hours: 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Relay For Life of Peabody
June 15, 2012
Peabody Veterans Memorial High School
485 Lowell Street
Peabody, MA 01960
Enrollment Hours: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

The eligibility requirements are as follows:

• be between 30 and 65 years old
• have no personal history of cancer (this does not include basal or squamous cell skin cancer)
• be willing to make a long-term commitment to the study which simply involves completing periodic follow-up questionnaires.

For more information, visit the CPS-3 website. 

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Also, The Concord Dream Team has announced a fundraiser Dinner Dance scheduled for March 3rd.  You can check out the details in the poster below: 

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook! You can also reach the website at http://www.relaybridgewater.org/ or email us at relaybridgewater@gmail.com.