Cancer Deaths

U.S. cancer deaths declined for the second year in a row in 2004, but there are worrisome signs that progress could falter, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society. Deaths fell by 3,014, following a decline of 369 deaths in 2003. While the number of cancer deaths in women increased slightly in 2003, the number fell for both sexes in 2004 - the first time that has happened since the government began keeping death statistics in the 1930s. The death rate for all cancers combined has dropped for 12 consecutive years, a total of 13.6 percent from 1991 to 2004.

Health officials are trying to figure out why the county has one of the deadliest cancer rates in the nation."We are infamous as the (state with the) highest cancer death rate in the country -- and AnneArundel is up there near the top," Frances Phillips, the Department of Health's planning chief, told the County Council yesterday. "The region surrounding Baltimore, including most of Anne Arundel County, is part of the hot spot."An average of more than 700 Anne Arundel residents die of cancer each year.

Declaring qualified success in combating cancer, Maryland health officials said yesterday the state has dropped from the nation's leader in cancer deaths to the fifth-worst state.The appraisal came yesterday from the Maryland State Council on Cancer Control, which released its first five-year compilation of cancer trends. The report showed that the most important measures -- cancer death and incidence rates -- dropped incrementally from 1992 through 1996.Death rates from the four leading cancer killers -- lung, colorectal, breast and prostate -- dropped over that period, as did rates of newly diagnosed cases.

For the first time since the government began keeping national death statistics in 1930, the number of cancer deaths in the United States has fallen as improvements in diagnosis, therapy and prevention have finally overtaken increases caused by aging and population growth. The number of deaths declined by only a sliver - just 369 out of more than a half-million between 2002 and 2003, the latest years for which data are available. But the American Cancer Society, which did the analysis, believes the downward trend is solid, and the group projects a substantially larger decrease this year.

State Del. Mary M. Rosso says that areas of northern Anne Arundel County and Curtis Bay in southern Baltimore have had more than their share of cancer deaths and that some might be attributed to toxic waste from Curtis Bay's chemical plants, steel firms, power stations and landfills. The legislator led a tour yesterday to promote a resolution she has introduced in the General Assembly that links pollution in the areas to their cancer rates. It also urges the state Department of the Environment to prohibit new chemical plants from moving into Curtis Bay. Resolutions passed by the legislature are nonbinding and express the opinion of the General Assembly.

Maryland will once again have the highest cancer death rate among the 50 states in 1992, according to the American Cancer Society.Only the District of Columbia is likely to fare worse, according to estimates in the society's publication, "Cancer Facts & Figures" for 1992, which analyzes trends in the District and Puerto Rico as well as the 50 states.Nearby Delaware ranks right behind Maryland in the places where the highest death rates are expected.Led by malignancies of the lungs, colon and rectum, breast, prostate and pancreas, cancer is expected to kill 9,900 people in Maryland in 1992, according to the society.

After decades of debate and inconclusive findings, a major new study has shown that a yearly test can significantly reduce deaths from colon and rectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Americans.In the 13-year study, those in a group randomly chosen to undergo annual tests for blood in their stools experienced 33 percent fewer deaths from cancers of the colon and rectum than did those in a similar group who were not offered the test.The study, conducted among 46,551 Minnesota residents, showed that the screening test could detect colorectal cancer at an early and curable stage, before symptoms were apparent.

For the first time since 1900, overall cancer death rates have shown a sustained decline, a new analysis has shown.Although death rates of some particularly deadly cancers are rising, a study of all cancer deaths from 1990 to 1995 documented the historic drop.Experts attributed the decline to preventive measures, especially anti-smoking efforts, and to improvements in early detection and treatment, which have increased the chances of surviving many common cancers."This is the news we've been waiting for," Dr. Richard Klausner, director of the National Cancer Institute, said.

Health inspectors will begin testing private drinking-water wells in Anne Arundel County this month hoping to find out why the county has one of the highest cancer death rates in the state.County, state and federal officials will spend about four months checking tap water at about 50 homes in the county for pesticides, industrial chemicals and other compounds believed to cause cancer."So far, they haven't found anything out of the ordinary with our water supply," said Richard Dixon, regional manager for water operations at the county's Department of Public Works.

Looking Out for Number One can easily lead to (A) draft avoidance and (B) candidacy for high office. It is not surprising when the two come together.George has a health care plan that will hold up from now to November, which is all he asks of it.It is No. 1 in cancer deaths. Its state sport is jousting. It is running out of sand. Maryland, your are beautiful.