The American Cancer Society 2035 challenge goal on cancer mortality reduction

Abstract

A summary evaluation of the 2015 American Cancer Society (ACS) challenge goal showed that overall US mortality from all cancers combined declined 26% over the period from 1990 to 2015. Recent research suggests that US cancer mortality can still be lowered considerably by applying known interventions broadly and equitably. The ACS Board of Directors, therefore, commissioned ACS researchers to determine challenge goals for reductions in cancer mortality by 2035. A statistical model was used to estimate the average annual percent decline in overall cancer death rates among the US general population and among college-educated Americans during the most recent period. Then, the average annual percent decline in the overall cancer death rates of college graduates was applied to the death rates in the general population to project future rates in the United States beginning in 2020. If overall cancer death rates from 2020 through 2035 nationally decline at the pace of those of college graduates, then death rates in 2035 in the United States will drop by 38.3% from the 2015 level and by 54.4% from the 1990 level. On the basis of these results, the ACS 2035 challenge goal was set as a 40% reduction from the 2015 level. Achieving this goal could lead to approximately 1.3 million fewer cancer deaths than would have occurred from 2020 through 2035 and 122,500 fewer cancer deaths in 2035 alone. The results also show that reducing the prevalence of risk factors and achieving optimal adherence to evidence-based screening guidelines by 2025 could lead to a 33.5% reduction in the overall cancer death rate by 2035, attaining 85% of the challenge goal. CA Cancer J Clin 2019;69:351-362.

Blueprint for cancer research: Critical gaps and opportunities

“…Overall, US mortality from all cancers combined declined 26% over the period from 1990 to 2015. A statistical modeling approach was then used to set the American Cancer Society (ACS) 2035 challenge goal at a 40% reduction in cancer mortality from the 2015 level 4 . Accomplishing this reduction in cancer will clearly involve better application of today's tools for cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and assurance of quality of life for patients with cancer, survivors, and their families 4,5 .…”

Long-term anti-inflammatory diet in relation to improved breast cancer prognosis: a prospective cohort study

“…Previous studies suggest that screening for early detection and improved treatment, including adjuvant therapy, have contributed to about one-half of the decline in breast cancer-related mortality 3 . Mortality can be lowered yet more by applying comprehensive disease management 4 . The importance of healthful diets for survivorship had been indicated in several studies 5,6 .…”

Tetrandrine: a review of its anticancer potentials, clinical settings, pharmacokinetics and drug delivery systems

“…[ 1 ] The disease is also a prominent cause of death, with increasing incidence and mortality rates worldwide. [ 2,3 ] Cancer develops when the regulation of healthy cells is lost, and abnormal cells proliferate excessively, leading to the invasion of the surrounding tissues and eventual spread to organs or other parts of the human body through the circulatory and lymphatic systems. [ 4,5 ] According to World Health Organization (WHO) and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), there are about 18.1 million new cancer cases, 9.6 million cancer deaths and 43.8 million people living with cancer within five years of diagnosis.…”