American Cancer
Society and American Heart Association
joint statement on Cancer
Statistics
DALLAS,
Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Some media reports about the American Cancer
Society's new Cancer Statistics and its projections for cancer
deaths in 2005 have led to confusion about cancer and heart disease,
the diseases that claim the lives of most Americans. The Society
released scientific data Wednesday indicating that since 1999 cancer
has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death in
Americans under the age of 85. Both diseases claim many lives, and
when data is compared in various ways each could be considered the
number one killer in some categories.
Heart
disease remains the number one killer for the entire population as a
whole (both men and women), while cancer has now surpassed heart
disease as the number one killer in all Americans under age 85. Some
media reports have stated that only the very oldest Americans
continue to die of heart disease more than cancer, when in fact
heart disease remains the number one killer in some specific age
groups, such as men ages 40 to 59 and older adults age 75 to 84. In
addition, cardiovascular diseases (heart disease, stroke and other
vascular diseases) continue to be the number one killer overall as
well as across most age groups.
Both of
our organizations are concerned that confusion around which disease
is the number one killer will take the spotlight off what's really
important. In this situation, neither of our organizations wants to
be number one. We share a vision of a healthier America. We are
gratified to see declining rates in both cancer and heart disease,
and applaud the many researchers who bring these important trends to
the attention of the American public, helping to raise awareness of
all the major killers.
This
shared mission is the foundation of our new groundbreaking,
lifesaving collaboration with the American Diabetes Association,
'Everyday Choices for a Healthier Life,' which exists to inform the
public that altogether, our chronic diseases account for 2 of every
3 deaths in the United States. We share an organizational imperative
to convince Americans that many of these deaths could be prevented
if they would take four simple steps: don't smoke, eat a healthy
diet, be active, and see your doctor for appropriate prevention and
screening.
It is
critical that Americans understand our profound, shared belief that
only through organizations like ours working together can we
continue to improve the health of all of our citizens -- a goal we
remain steadfastly dedicated to reaching every day.