Cancer Surpasses Heart Disease as Number One Cause of Death in Americans Under Age 85

The American Cancer Society's 2005 statistical report shows that, for the first time, cancer kills more Americans under age 85 than does heart disease. In 2002, the most recent year for which information is available, 476,009 people under age 85 died of cancer compared with 450,637 who died of heart disease.

The under-85 age group accounts for just over 98% of the US population, which means that, right now, only the very oldest Americans die more of heart disease rather than cancer. An estimated 1,372,910 new cancer cases and 570,260 cancer deaths are estimated for 2005.

Although this may not appear to be encouraging news at first, there is good news. Many cancers are preventable—about a third are due to the use of tobacco products and another third are related to obesity, lack of exercise, and poor diet. And cancer deaths are declining--about 1% each year since 1999--- due to increased prevention efforts, earlier detection, and improved therapies.

There are steps everyone can take to reduce their risk of developing cancer: don't smoke or use any tobacco products, eat a proper diet, exercise, maintain a height-appropriate weight, use protection against the sun's harmful rays, get regular check-ups and appropriate specific cancer screenings. Two good places to learn more about what you can do to reduce your own cancer risk are the American Cancer Society at

www.cancer.org and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health at