Cancer rates continue to drop in the US, continuing a trend that has been on for years and attributed largely to decreased smoking and increased screening, according to an annual report created by the Centers for Disease Control, the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.
Cancer deaths are actually expected to rise due to increased population even as the rate drops (ie, 10% of a population of 100 means 10 deaths, but 8% of a population of 200 results in 16 deaths). Breast cancer is complicated somewhat by the fact that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was shown in 2002 to cause an increase in the breast cancer rate, and many women stopped using it as a result, which likely caused a decrease.
This report reminded me of the U.S. Preventive Services task force that recommended a couple of weeks ago that women between 40 and 49 shouldn't automatically be screened with mammograms -- a recommendation that even the task force members admit will cause an increase in cancer deaths. The coverage seemed to focus on cost issues associated with false positive mammograms. These result in many needle biopsies that usually turn out negative. I didn't see any discussion of the medical reasons to avoid biopsies -- surely so many biopsies result in complications such as infections and tissue damage, not to mention the occasional medical error, so the issue isn't just cost.
I have no idea what kind of flower this is. It is currently blooming in the garden at the new house.
Relffits is chilling.
The dog finds a sunbeam and stretches out.
I'm amazed any truck made it through there.
The more we went in and out of our Top Sekrit campsite, the more muddy the approach got.
Jeron's truck is just about to pull a 500 pound log.
