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“Cancer Deaths Prevented!?”
What does the American Cancer Society mean when they say “cancer deaths prevented?” Who is doing the preventing? How are the cancer deaths prevented!?
According to the report in CA: Cancer Journal for Clinicians the quotation below makes a sweeping statement about reductions in cancer mortality.
“In 2024, 2,001,140 new cancer cases and 611,720 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the United States. Cancer mortality continued to decline through 2021, averting over 4 million deaths since 1991 because of reductions in smoking, earlier detection for some cancers, and improved treatment options in both the adjuvant and metastatic settings.”
First and foremost, I want to state that while newly diagnosed cancers continue to increase annually, fewer cancer deaths occur. This treat is fantastic.
However, what does it mean to say that a person diagnosed with cancer is dying much later or not at all? In the case of my cancer, multiple myeloma, the average length of overall survival (length of life after a MM diagnosis) is steadily growing longer. This is great.
But the reason for the MM patient’s increased survival may be multi-factorial. The longer survival undoubtedly results from:
- improved diagnostics
- improved healthcare from oncology, nutritionists, etc.
- improved non-conventional therapies such as nutrition, supplementation, lifestyle etc.
- improved chemotherapy regimens, etc.
I’d like to think that PeopleBeatingCancer.org helped a bit too. I say this because I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, in early 1994. Average life expectancies of MM patients was 3-5 years. I underwent aggressive conventional therapies. Relapsed and told that nothing more could be done for me.
That was in September of 1997. I then underwent a non-FDA approved alternative cancer therapy called antineoplaston therapy. I achieved complete remission in April of 1999 where I have been ever since.
If the American Cancer Society is going to focus on the time period of 1991-2024, then they’ve got to entertain the full spectrum of possibilities or risk sounding self-serving. When the largest cancer non-profit in the world uses the word “prevented,” it comes across sounding as if they, the ACS, is doing the preventing. And they are not.
The best example of cancer- diagnosis but not dying would be the increase in prostate cancer diagnoses that lead to “active surveillance” instead of treatment.
I don’t think the word “prevented” is appropriate in this case. No one, not even the ACS knows how or why cancer patients may live longer than average or die of something beside the cancer they were diagnosed with.
Have you been diagnosed with cancer? What type? What stage? To learn more about evidence-based non-conventional cancer therapies send me an email. David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com
Thank you,
David Emerson
- Cancer Survivor
- Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
U.S. Cancer Death Rates Are Falling, But News Isn’t All Good
“Cancer deaths continue to decline in the United States, with more than 4 million deaths prevented since 1991, a new report shows…
But more people are developing cancers than ever, making the dreaded disease a continued threat to human health, according to the new report published Jan. 17 by the American Cancer Society (ACS)…
“We’re encouraged by the steady drop in cancer mortality as a result of less smoking, earlier detection for some cancers and improved treatment,” said lead report author Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director of surveillance research at the American Cancer Society.
“But as a nation, we’ve dropped the ball on cancer prevention as incidence continues to increase for many common cancers — like breast, prostate, and endometrial, as well as colorectal and cervical cancers in some young adults,” Siegel added in an ACS news release…
Cancer statistics, 2024
“In 2024, 2,001,140 new cancer cases and 611,720 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the United States. Cancer mortality continued to decline through 2021, averting over 4 million deaths since 1991 because of reductions in smoking, earlier detection for some cancers, and improved treatment options in both the adjuvant and metastatic settings…
Active Surveillance for Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Continues to Rise
“Until about 10 years ago, most men diagnosed with prostate cancer that has a low risk of causing death had immediate treatment with surgery or radiation. Although both are considered to be cures for low-risk prostate cancer, they can also have serious and lifelong side effects, including urinary problems and erectile dysfunction.
But a recent study confirms findings from earlier studies that found men are increasingly opting against immediate treatment. Instead, they are working with their doctors to carefully monitor the cancer via a process known as active surveillance, holding off on treatment until there are signs of progression…
But even as diagnoses of low-risk disease have dropped, more men with low-risk disease are opting for active surveillance, Dr. Cooperberg reported. In 2014, 26.5% of men with low-risk prostate cancer chose active surveillance. By the end of 2021, 59.6% did…”
Cancer Prevention Overview (PDQ®)–Patient Version
“What Is Prevention?
Cancer prevention is action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. In 2023, about 1.9 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States. In addition to the physical problems and emotional distress caused by cancer, the high costs of care are also a burden to patients, their families, and to the public. By preventing cancer, the number of new cases of cancer is lowered. Hopefully, this will reduce the burden of cancer and lower the number of deaths caused by cancer…
Cancer is not a single disease but a group of related diseases. Many things in our genes, our lifestyle, and the environment around us may increase or decrease our risk of getting cancer.
Scientists are studying many different ways to help prevent cancer, including the following:
- Ways to avoid or control things known to cause cancer.
- Changes in diet and lifestyle.
- Finding precancerous conditions early. Precancerous conditions are conditions that may become cancer.
- Chemoprevention (medicines to treat a precancerous condition or to keep cancer from starting).
- Risk-reducing surgery…”