Cancer deaths continue their steady decline

The rate of death from cancer in the United States continues to decline steadily, the American Cancer Society (ACS) reports.

Between 1990-1991 and 2008, overall death rates decreased by about 23% in men and 15% in women. The ACS estimates that the reduction translates to 1 million lives saved since 1990.

Death rates continue to decline for lung, colon, breast, and prostate cancers, which are the four deadliest types, but have increased in the past decade for pancreas, liver, thyroid, and kidney cancer.