Report: Overall cancer deaths continue to decline, liver cancers up

Death rates continue to decline for all cancers combined and for most cancer sites for men and women of all major racial and ethnic groups, according to the latest annual report to the nation on the status of cancer. The overall cancer death rate decreased 1.5% per year between 2003 and 2012, while incidence rates decreased for men and remained stable for women. However, the report highlights the increasing burden of liver cancer. New liver cancers increased an average 2.3% per year between 2008 and 2012, while deaths from liver cancer increased an average 2.8% per year among men and 3.4% per year among women. “The latest data show many cancer prevention programs are working and saving lives,” said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Tom Frieden, M.D. “But the growing burden of liver cancer is troublesome. We need to do more work promoting hepatitis testing, treatment and vaccination.” The annual report is produced by the American Cancer Society, CDC, National Cancer Institute, and North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.