ACS report: Half of cancer deaths may be preventable

Lifestyle changes and greater use of proven screening tests could prevent at least half of all cancer deaths, according to a recent report from the American Cancer Society. Tobacco use, physical inactivity, obesity, and poor nutrition remain major preventable causes of cancer and other diseases in the United States.

The report indicates that early detection of prostate cancer with PSA testing is widely practiced and may have contributed to recent declines in mortality for this disease, although the benefit of PSA screening on mortality has not yet been documented in a randomized trial.

“This year, for the first time, there was a drop in the reported number of actual cancer deaths in the United States. This is clear evidence that our investment in research, our work to educate the public about prevention and early detection, and our efforts to advocate for legislation to win the fight against cancer are working,” said Carolyn D. Runowicz, MD, of the American Cancer Society.

“Still, as this report shows, there is a remarkable opportunity to save hundreds of thousands of lives and to reduce suffering from this disease with lifestyle changes and an increased used of proven screening strategies."