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Show JY by Corey W. Grua J Public Info. Chairman, Luintah Co. I Init Arnor Cancer SxT iMIfi Cancer facts and figures QUESTION: How Many people alive today have ever had cancer? ANSWER: The new 1980 "Cancer Facts and Figures" booklet has just been printed. Here is the American Cancer Society's information. There are over three million Americans alive today who have a history of cancer, two million of them with diagnosis five or more years ago. While some of these two million people still have evidence of cancer, most of them can be considered cured. (Non-melanoma (Non-melanoma skin cancer and carcinoma in situ not included in above figure.) The decision as to when a patient may be considered cured is one that must be made by the physician after examining the individual patient. For most forms of cancer, five years without symptoms following treatment is the accepted time. However, some patients can be considered cured after one year, others after three years, whereas some have to be followed much longer than five years. In 1980, about 785,000 people will be diagnosed as having cancer. About 262,000 Americans, or about one-third of all people who get cancer this year, will be alive at least five years after treatment. Could more people be saved? Yes. About 131,000 people with cancer will probably die in 1980 who might have been saved by earlier treatment. Of every six people who get cancer, two will be saved and four will die. (This excludes ex-cludes non-melanoma skin cancer and carcinoma in situ of uterine cervix.) But of the four who will die, one might have been saved with earlier diagnosis and prompt treatment. The other three of the four will die of cancer which cannot can-not yet be controlled. Only the results of research can save these patients. This means half of those who get cancer could and should be saved. Thus the immediate im-mediate goal of cancer control is saving 393,000 lives, -or half of those who will get cancer in 1980. Next month, you'll again have your chance to help. |