New Report Shows Cancer Deaths On Decline

San Diego is making progress in the fight against cancer, and a new report shows deaths from a number of cancers including breast cancer are on the steady decline.

Radiologists at Scripps Polster Breast Clinic recently saw clues for possible breast cancer in Mary Ann O?Connor?s mammogram.

"The mammogram was significantly different than the one the year before,? said O?Connor.

O?Connor had a digital X-ray that clearly showed suspicious changes in her breast.

?The radiologist was able to show me on the digital mammogram that was taken what those abnormalities look like,? said O?Connor.

The abnormalities turned out to be early-stage breast cancer.

"It was that digital mammogram that started the process to help me get exactly what I had and what I needed to do to deal with it,? said O?Connor.

Advanced screening technologies, better treatments and changes in lifestyles are being credited with a dramatic drop in cancer deaths nationwide and in San Diego.

"They are now reaping the rewards of a decade of cleaning up their lives,? said Scripps Polster surgical oncologist Dr. Mary Wilde.

New figures from the
American Cancer Society show a big drop in deaths in San Diego from a number of cancers.

According to ACS figures, breast cancer deaths dropped by 46 deaths from 409 to 363, while uterine cancer deaths fell by 17 deaths from 69 to 42. Esophagus cancer deaths declined by 16, from 105 to 89 deaths, according to the figures.

Five or six years ago, O?Connor?s breast cancer might not have been caught so early.

Digital mammograms are giving doctors a better way to zero in on hard-to-diagnose cancers.

"You can brighten it, you can enlarge it, you can do all of these things with the image,? said Wilde. "Today's technology just gives you that control to make good decisions.?

Not only are many cancers being caught earlier, but improved treatments are helping people survive.

"The aromaintase inhibitors, the therapeutic agents we didn't even dream about five years ago, have lower toxicity to the healthy parts of the body,? said Wilde.

The encouraging news about the decline of the number of breast cancer deaths does not mean patients should skip their next mammogram, experts said.

"The reason we have this encouraging news is that women have been getting their mammograms. If we take that away, we are going to reverse the trend,? said Wilde.

O?Connor said she believed if patients use the tools available and stay educated, they can beat cancer, too.

source : news.yahoo.com