The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has released the 2014 edition of the cancer progress report, which highlights that more cancer patients are surviving when compared to a few decades ago. However, more research and funding are required to save more lives of people suffering from different types of cancer.
The Cancer Progress Report suggests that in 1971 only 3 million people in the U.S. survived cancer. However, the figure has now increased to an astonishing 14.5 million, which reflects the advancements in medical technology as well as attention given by the government health agencies.
Even though the rate of cancer survivors has increased in the last few decades, the number of people estimated to get the deadly disease is still on the rise. The AACR report suggests that about 585,000 people in the U.S. die due to cancer. However, the report also highlights that around 50 percent of these cancer-related deaths could have been avoided with certain changes to an individual's lifestyle.
The cancer progress report points out that tobacco use is one of the major causes of cancer deaths in the United States. Around 200,000 people in the U.S. are expected to die in 2015 due to cancer caused by tobacco products. The report indicates that smoking rate among adults in the U.S. has reduced from 45 percent in 1965 to just 18 percent in 2012; however, many people are still taking up smoking.
Obesity is a growing concern for the country's healthcare system as well and can lead to seven different types of cancers, including breast cancer. The AACR report indicates that a large number of people will get cancer in 2015, which will be linked to obesity. A healthy lifestyle and some physical activity can help people to reduce weight and also ward off potential medical conditions such as developing heart diseases or cancer.
The report suggests that budgets for National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) is declining, which may affect future advancements in treating cancer.
"As a country we must set priorities and make difficult choices at this fiscally challenging time in our history. Our federal government can do no better than invest robustly in the NIH and the NCI so that the path forward will lead us to a brighter future for the millions of people whose lives have been touched by cancer," says [pdf] Carlos L. Arteaga, AACR president.
The medical industry has achieved a lot when it comes to battling cancer. However, a lot of research is still needed to detect cancer at an early stage and provide adequate diagnosis. Funding from the government will play a vital role for scientists to develop treatments for various types of cancer and reduce the cancer mortality rate.
Check out the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2014 video.
