Prevention and screening efforts significantly reduce cancer mortality

January 16, 2025

A recent NIH study published in JAMA Oncology found that prevention and screening efforts have averted approximately 4.75 million deaths from breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers between 1975 and 2020, accounting for 80% of the nearly 6 million cancer deaths prevented during this period.

The study utilized models from the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) to assess the impact of prevention, screening, and treatment advances. Notably, smoking cessation was a major factor in reducing lung cancer deaths, while screening and removal of precancerous growths were crucial for cervical cancer. The findings underscore the importance of continuing and enhancing prevention and screening strategies to further reduce cancer mortality.

Source:

(2024, January 14). NIH. Prevention and screening drive drop in cancer deaths. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/prevention-screening-drive-drop-cancer-deaths