Antismoking campaigns credited for cancer decline: October 16, 2006--research summary.

The long-term decline in U.S. cancer rates can be attributed to antismoking campaigns and the decline in smoking over the past half-century, the American Cancer Society said.

UPI reported Oct. 4 that the ACS released a study showing that cancer rates fell 16 percent among men between 199 l and 2003, and that lower smoking rates among men accounted for 40 percent of the overall decline in smoking.

On the other hand, the cancer death rate rose 10 percent among women between 1991 and 2003; the ACS noted that smoking rates among women have only recently begun to decline. The success of antismoking campaign in dissuading young people from starting to smoke could result in cancer rates falling even further in future years, said Michael Thun, coauthor of the ACS study.

The research was published in the October 2006 issue of the Journal Tobacco Control. Reference: Thun, M. J., Jemal, A. (2006) How much of the decrease in cancer death rates in the United States is attributable to reductions in tobacco smoking? Tobacco Control, 15:345-347.

Submitted by IMDHA Diplomat Michael Ellner, NYC/ [e-mail]

Dr. Anne,

First, what a wonderful conference!! The presenters were first rate and the opportunity to take all those classes while I in the middle of my training was priceless. Moreover, I thought I the way you guys ran things showed a lot of class and I was definitely impressed. Second: Joyce did a fantastic job!

Your Friend, John Tomlinson/[e-mail]

Hi Dr. Anne

Thank you for putting on such a successful conference. I know it takes a lot to organize it. Konst and I had a great time and thank you for including me in the "Goddess Panel."

Debbie Papadakis

Hypno Healing Institute Inc./Toronto, Ontario Canada