How screening and prevention helped reduce mortality from five cancers

Five types of cancer where screening and prevention have contributed to significantly reducing mortality rates

Progress made in the fight against cancer

Cancer was once considered one of the deadliest diseases with no known cure. Today, thanks to more than 45 years of research and therapeutic advances, we have made significant progress. Notably, improvements in cancer prevention and screening have saved more lives than ever before.

The five most effective types of cancer screening

According to a study conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Health and published in JAMA Oncology on December 5, five types of cancer screening helped save lives. These include breast, lung, cervical, prostate and colorectal cancer screenings. “Eight out of ten deaths from these five cancers that have been prevented over the last 45 years are due to advances in prevention and screening”said Katrina AB Goddard, co-senior author of the study and director of the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences at NCI.

The major role of prevention and screening

Contrary to popular belief, improved treatments are not solely responsible for reducing mortality from these five cancers. Prevention and screening have played an equally crucial role. The study used statistical models and cancer mortality data to estimate the relative contributions of prevention, screening and therapeutic advances to deaths avoided from these five cancers between 1975 and 2020.

Figures that speak for themselves

A few figures allow us to measure the impact of these advances. For example, out of 2.71 million people, 1.71 million avoided death through mammography screening. Prevention through tobacco control has prevented the death of 3.45 million people from lung cancer.

Additionally, the study authors point out that newer prevention and screening strategies, such as HPV vaccination and lung cancer screening, which were not widely used during the period of study, could help further reduce cancer mortality rates.

Conclusion

These results underline the importance of prevention and screening in the fight against cancer. They also remind us that research and advances in these areas must be supported and encouraged to continue saving lives.