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American Cancer Society researchers say coordinated efforts needed to close gaps in preventive behavior
An
annual report from the American Cancer Society says much of the
suffering and death from cancer could be prevented by more systematic
efforts to reduce tobacco use, improve diet and physical activity,
reduce obesity, and expand the use of established screening tests. The
report, Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Facts and Figures (CPED),
outlines gaps and opportunities that contribute to cancer mortality, and
says social, economic, and legislative factors profoundly influence
individual health behaviors. Since
1992, the American Cancer Society has published CPED as a resource to
strengthen cancer prevention and early detection efforts at the local,
state, and national levels.
Below are highlights of this year’s report.
Tobacco Use
Cigarette
smoking prevalence in US adults declined modestly between 2005 and
2010. An estimated 19.3% of adults (men: 21.5%, women: 17.3%) smoked
cigarettes in 2010. But the declines have not extended to all subgroups.
Light
or intermittent smoking (less than 10 cigarettes/day) in daily smokers
increased significantly between 2005 (16%) and 2010 (22%), whereas heavy
smoking declined from 13% to 8%, reflecting long-term historical trends
toward lower smoking intensity.
In
2009, data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) showed that 19.5%
of high school students reported current cigarette smoking (smoking on
at least one day in the past 30 days) and 7.3% reported frequent smoking
(smoking on 20 or more days in the past 30 days).
While
the YRBS found no change in current smoking prevalence among high
school students between 2003 and 2009, other more recent surveys found
that smoking declined significantly among teen student smokers between
2010 and 2011 and among adolescent smokers 12 to 17 years of age between
2008 and 2010.
Tobacco
industry marketing expenditures for smokeless tobacco products
increased by 120% between 2005 and 2008, while they declined by 24% for
cigarettes. The majority of these expenditures went toward price
discounts that are intended to offset tobacco price increases.
A
recent study by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network(ACS
CAN), the Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, found
that the passage of comprehensive smoke-free legislation by states
currently without such laws could result in more than 624,000 fewer
deaths over the long term and save $1.32 billion in treatment costs over
five years.
Overweight and Obesity, Physical Activity, and Nutrition
Currently,
an estimated 18% of adolescents and 35.7% of adults are obese.
Increasing rates of obesity observed since the early 1980s appear to
have slowed or leveled off since 2003. Obesity rates in men and women
have now converged.
In 2010, the prevalence of obesity among adults exceeded 20% in all states; the state with the highest obesity prevalence was Mississippi (34.6%), according to self-reported surveys.
HPV Vaccination for Cervical Cancer Prevention
To
prevent cervical cancer, vaccination against two types of human
papillomavirus (HPV) that cause 70% of cervical deaths is recommended
for adolescent girls. The initiation of the HPV vaccination series among
US females 13 to 17 years of age increased from 25% in 2007 to 48.7% in
2010, and one in three completed the entire three-dose series.
Cancer Screening
Mammography
usage has not increased since 2000. In 2010, 66.5% of women 40 years of
age and older reported getting a mammogram in the past year. Women who
lack health insurance reported the lowest use of mammograms (31.5%).
In
2010, 76.4% of adult women reported having a Pap test in the past three
years. However, there is persistent underuse of the Pap test among
women who are uninsured, recent immigrants, and those with low
education.
In
2010, 59.1% of adults 50 years of age and older reported being screened
for colon cancer using either a recommended stool test or an endoscopy
test within recommended time intervals. However, rates remain
substantially lower in uninsured individuals and those with lower
socioeconomic status. To date, 28 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation ensuring coverage
“With
increased efforts toward more fostering of and support for cancer
prevention and early detection activities, we can reduce incidence,
death, and suffering from cancer,” said Vilma Cokkinides, PhD, co-author
of the report. “The
price and availability of healthy foods, incentives and opportunities
for regular physical activity in schools and communities, advertising
content, as well as the availability of insurance coverage for screening
tests and
treatment for tobacco addiction all influence individual choices.
Improved collaboration among government agencies, private companies,
nonprofit organizations, health care providers, policy makers, and the
American public can lead to continued improvements, and more favorable
trends that reduce the risk of death from cancer and other chronic
diseases.”
Acknowledgement by the Zestzfulness Team
The above story is reprinted from the April 18, 2012 news release by the American Cancer Society.
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