American Cancer Society and American Heart Association Joint Statement on Cancer Statistics Report
Posted on: Friday, 21 January 2005, 15:00 CST
DALLAS, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Some media reports about the American Cancer Society's new Cancer Statistics and its projections for cancer deaths in 2005 have led to confusion about cancer and heart disease, the diseases that claim the lives of most Americans. The Society released scientific data Wednesday indicating that since 1999 cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death in Americans under the age of 85. Both diseases claim many lives, and when data is compared in various ways each could be considered the number one killer in some categories.
Heart disease remains the number one killer for the entire population as a whole (both men and women), while cancer has now surpassed heart disease as the number one killer in all Americans under age 85. Some media reports have stated that only the very oldest Americans continue to die of heart disease more than cancer, when in fact heart disease remains the number one killer in some specific age groups, such as men ages 40 to 59 and older adults age 75 to 84. In addition, cardiovascular diseases (heart disease, stroke and other vascular diseases) continue to be the number one killer overall as well as across most age groups.
Both of our organizations are concerned that confusion around which disease is the number one killer will take the spotlight off what's really important. In this situation, neither of our organizations wants to be number one. We share a vision of a healthier America. We are gratified to see declining rates in both cancer and heart disease, and applaud the many researchers who bring these important trends to the attention of the American public, helping to raise awareness of all the major killers.
This shared mission is the foundation of our new groundbreaking, lifesaving collaboration with the American Diabetes Association, 'Everyday Choices for a Healthier Life,' which exists to inform the public that altogether, our chronic diseases account for 2 of every 3 deaths in the United States. We share an organizational imperative to convince Americans that many of these deaths could be prevented if they would take four simple steps: don't smoke, eat a healthy diet, be active, and see your doctor for appropriate prevention and screening.
It is critical that Americans understand our profound, shared belief that only through organizations like ours working together can we continue to improve the health of all of our citizens -- a goal we remain steadfastly dedicated to reaching every day.
Rose Marie Robertson Harmon J Eyre
Chief Medical Officer Chief Science Officer
American Heart Association American Cancer Society
American Heart Association; American Cancer Society
CONTACT: Anne Isenhower, +1-404-417-5850, or anne.isenhower@cancer.org ,or David Sampson, +1-213-368-8523, or david.sampson@cancer.org , both ofAmerican Cancer Society; or Carole Bullock, +1-214-706-1279, orcarole.bullock@heart.org , or Maggie Francis, +1-214-706-1397 , both ofAmerican Heart Association
Web site: http://www.americanheart.org/
Source: PRNewswire
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