Upon a close analysis of the records compiled by the Government regarding cancer, it has been noticed that cancer rates have started dropping. Researchers had already noticed the change, as their studies have shown that the improved treatments have had a significant part in reducing cancer rates. Also, extensive research regarding the prevention of cancer has helped people avoid the development of cancer.

Doctors are excited to see the drop in cancer incidence, and feel that their work is finally showing practical results. However, researchers fear that this incidence drop may only be temporary. The drop of cancer diagnosis has been of an approximate average of 0.8% per year, from 1999 to 2005. The year 2005 is the last year for which complete data is available. It may be possible that rates from 2005 to 2008 to register either a decline or a much-feared increase. Except for the diagnosis rate dropping, researchers noticed that deaths caused by cancer have also registered a decline, which apparently began some 15 years ago. The reports were published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Both the public and the doctors are excited about the decrease, as they give everybody the confidence that cancer research is moving in the right direction.

From 2002 to 2005, researchers noticed an average drop in deaths from cancer of 1.8% each year.
The rates have declined mainly from a significant reduction of death from certain types of cancers, such as prostate cancer and lung cancer in men, breast cancer in women and colorectal cancer in both sexes.