It’s good! Data released by the American Cancer Society show meaningful and steady declines in cancer death rates, and overall cancer incidence in the neighborhood of 1% per year for the past decade or so. Reductions in death from cancer owe much to the effectiveness of early detection and new treatments. A fall in incidence is about less overall exposure to carcinogens -- tobacco smoke in particular.
These are findings everyone but the conspiracy theorists should love. So maybe it's the conspiracy theorists who need to pay particular attention. I encounter them often, armed with arguments against modern medical practices, cynicism about pharmaceuticals, suspicions about screening, and in general abiding concerns with those particular risks we can do least about.
There is cause for concern about some modern medical practices, reason for doubt about the ulterior motives of big Pharma, and so on. But these compelling tend data tell us we should not ignore the baby while lamenting the state of the bath water.
Those risks we can do a whole lot about -- smoking in this case, along with diet and physical activity -- ovewhelm the influence of those risks we don't control, such as chemicals in the environment. And despite its missteps and limitations, modern medicine is saving a whole lot of lives.
Don't let your doubts about the many imperfections in the system dissuade you from partaking of the obvious good we clearly know how to do. The obvious messages of the moment are to steer clear of tobacco smoke, and follow the recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force with regard to cancer screening.
The cancer trends are talking in the clear language of objective data. Everyone should listen.
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