Cancer statistics, 2001

Each year the American Cancer Society compiles estimates of the number of n ew cancer cases and deaths expected in the US in the current year and the m ost recent data on cancer incidence, mortality. and survival. An estimated 1,268,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the year 2001 and an est imated 553,400 Americans will die from cancer. Overall cancer incidence and death rates have continued to decrease in men and women since the early 19 90s, and the decline in overall cancer mortality has been greater in recent years. Despite reductions in age-adjusted rates of cancer death, the total number of recorded cancer deaths in the US continues to increase, due to a n aging and expanding population. Large disparities in cancer incidence and mortality across racial/ethnic groups continue. Black men and women experi ence higher incidence of cancer and poorer survival than white men and wome n, The disparity in survival reflects both diagnosis of cancer at later dis ease stages, and poorer survival within each stage of diagnosis.