Prevention and screening avert 4.75 million cancer deaths in 45 years
Eight out of 10 deaths from five cancers combined were prevented between 1975 and 2020, primarily due to advancements in prevention and screening, rather than improvements in treatment, according to new research. PHOTO|Shutterstock
What you need to know:
- Eight out of 10 deaths from five cancers combined were prevented between 1975 and 2020
- The study also highlighted new opportunities to further reduce cancer deaths, such as HPV vaccination, lung cancer screening and accessible options such as HPV self-testing
Eight out of 10 deaths from five cancers combined were prevented between 1975 and 2020, primarily due to advancements in prevention and screening, rather than improvements in treatment, according to new research.
The study, led by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), analysed deaths from breast, cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers averted by prevention, screening and treatment efforts. These cancers were chosen because they are among the leading causes of cancer death and have established strategies for prevention, early detection and treatment. Together, these cancers account for almost half of all new cancer diagnoses and deaths in recent years.
The researchers used statistical models and cancer mortality data to estimate the contributions of prevention, screening, and treatment to the 5.94 million deaths averted in 45 years for these five cancers. Prevention and screening alone accounted for 4.75 million, or 80 per cent, of these deaths.
The findings, published in JAMA Oncology, show that for breast cancer, one million of the 2.71 million projected deaths without interventions were averted, with 75 per cent due to treatment advances and the remaining 25 per cent due to mammography screening.
Lung cancer prevention, mainly through tobacco control, accounted for 98 per cent of the 3.45 million deaths averted (out of 9.2 million), with treatment accounting for the remainder.
For cervical cancer, all of the 160,000 deaths averted (out of 370,000) were due to cervical cancer screening, such as Pap and HPV tests and removal of precancerous lesions.
For colorectal cancer, of the 940,000 deaths averted (out of 3.45 million), 79 per cent were due to screening and removal of precancerous polyps, with advances in treatment accounting for the remaining 21 per cent. In contrast, for prostate cancer, PSA screening contributed 56 per cent of the 360,000 deaths averted (out of 1.01 million), with treatment accounting for 44 per cent.
Smoking cessation played the largest role, contributing to 3.45 million lung cancer deaths averted. When analysed individually, prevention and screening accounted for most of the deaths averted from cervical, colorectal, lung and prostate cancer, while treatment advances had the largest impact on breast cancer deaths.
The study also highlighted new opportunities to further reduce cancer deaths, such as HPV vaccination, lung cancer screening and accessible options such as HPV self-testing. Developing new treatments and prevention strategies remains critical, especially for cancers with limited interventions, such as pancreatic and ovarian cancer.
“Many people assume treatment advances drive reductions in cancer mortality, but the key finding here is the significant role of prevention and screening. Over the past 45 years, eight out of 10 deaths averted from these five cancers were due to prevention and screening advances,” said Katrina A B Goddard, co-lead investigator.
“To reduce cancer death rates, we must integrate effective prevention and screening strategies with treatment advances. This study highlights which strategies have been most effective, helping us build on this progress and expand their use nationwide,” emphasised W Kimryn Rathmell, director of the National Cancer Institute.