Originally published January 31 2005
Cancer has passed heart disease as the number one killer in the US
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Death rates due to cancer and heart disease in people under 85 have been falling for years, but death due to heart disease has fallen off far enough that it is no longer the most common killer and cancer has taken over the top spot. Heart disease is still the most common killer in those over 85, who account for 1.5% of the US population.
Cancer has eclipsed heart disease as the top killer of Americans under the age of 85, according to an annual report released this week.
Deaths from both diseases are falling, but the heart disease mortality rate has declined by more.
The data is included in the American Cancer Society's annual statistical report, which was released earlier this week.
The most recent data from 2002 showed 476,009 Americans under 85 died of cancer compared with 450,637 who died of heart disease.
Among Americans over the age of 85, heart disease remains the top killer over cancer.
About 1.5 percent of Americans are over the age of 85.
The annual report also says significant progress is being made in the fight against some of the deadliest and most common cancers.
Death rates from lung cancer has dropped among men, but remains steady for women, however, the society looks at this as good news because deaths among women from lung cancer had been steadily increasing in recent decades.
Death rates from other cancers, such as colon, breast, and prostate cancers have also declined, according to the report.
About 1.5 million Americans will develop cancer this year; close to 570,000 will die from it.
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