cancer rate

[suzy_q2010]

I am so sorry to hear about your relatives. It has to be extremely difficult for you and your family, and I offer all of you my sympathy.

You have to think of "cancer" as many diseases, not just one.

For most cancers, the cause is not known.

For some, such as as some breast cancers and colon cancer, there is a distinct genetic component.

Some are influenced by environmental toxins, including tobacco smoke.

Some are related to infections, such as hepatitis B and liver cancer and human papilloma virus (HPV) and genital and throat cancers.

And since many cancers increase in incidence as the population ages, larger numbers of people in those age groups translates to larger numbers of cancers.

For your family, it is hard to say anything without knowing more information such as their ages and the types of cancer.

[theatergypsy]

Where I live there is a higher-than-usual incidence of colorectal cancer. I myself had surgery and chemo for colon cancer in 2009. My surgeon and his partner attribute the increase to acid mine water in the river.

I'm sure there is a multiplicity of reasons for cancer growth. It would be hard to point to just one but it would facilitate the attempt to abate the causes and effect a cure.

[charolastra00]

Originally Posted by SD4020

Oh yes, but isn't the use of tobacco going down?

Medical News: U.S. Smoking Rates Dropping Slowly - in Primary Care, Smoking & Tobacco from MedPage Today

If we were to follow your logic, then cancer cases caused by tobacco use should go down.

Yes, and we will hopefully see the rates of smoking-related cancers go down 40 or 50 years down the line. Unfortunately, even people who quit 20 years ago are still at a much higher risk for lung cancer than those who have not smoked at all.