Major declines in breast, colorectal, prostate cancer mortality rates
Cancer is now the leading cause of death in Wisconsin, according to the recently released Wisconsin Facts and Figures 2013.
This year, it is estimated that 11,220 Wisconsin residents will die of cancer. Nationally, heart disease remains the leading cause of death.
Of the major cancers, melanoma is increasing most dramatically, and both males and females in Wisconsin are experiencing an increase.
From 1995 to 2010, melanoma incidence rates have increased by 65 percent in men and 112 percent in women.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths for both males and females in Wisconsin.
Despite taking over as the leading cause of death in Wisconsin, incidence rates for all cancers combined declined by 13 percent in male and female Wisconsinites from 1995 to 2010.
Cancer death rates also declined during that time period due in part to reduced mortality in breast, colorectal and prostate cancers.
This decline is attributed to better treatments, early detection, and an increase in awareness of risk reduction behaviors.
Here are some of the basic findings from this year’s report:
• Approximately 31,590 Wisconsinites will be diagnosed with a potentially serious cancer in 2013.
• The rate for female melanoma has more than doubled since 1995.
• The male rate has also increased significantly but less than the female increase.
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among both males and females in Wisconsin.
• Women continue to see an increase in lung and bronchus cancer death rates.
• Cigarette smoking causes the majority of all lung cancer deaths in Wisconsin.
• Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Wisconsin males, representing 28 percent of all cancer newly diagnosed.
• Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Wisconsin women, representing 29 percent of all female cancers diagnosed.
• African American women in Wisconsin are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than white women but are more likely to die from the disease.
• Major declines in cancer mortality rates in Wisconsin from 1995-2010:
• Breast cancer mortality rates declined by 28 percent
• Colorectal cancer mortality rates declined by 35 percent
• Prostate cancer mortality rates declined by 38 percent
• Cervical cancer mortality rates declined by 49 percent
• Major declines in cancer incidence rates in Wisconsin from 1995-2010:
• Colorectal cancer declined by 39 percent
• Prostate cancer declined by 24 percent
• Cervical cancer declined by 20 percent
• There are 279,210 cancer survivors living in Wisconsin today.
Wisconsin Cancer Facts & Figures 2013- 2014 is published by the American Cancer Society, with contributions from the Wisconsin Cancer Reporting System. The full report can be viewed at http://bit.ly/2013factsfigures.
