Smoking Rates Historically Low, but Other Cancer-related Behaviors Need Improvement
An American Cancer Society (ACS) review of cancer prevention and early detection measures for 2018 and 2019 in the United States shows mixed progress. Smoking prevalence during this time was at an historic low, partly because most people who ever smoked have quit. But obesity rates remained high, and cancer screening and HPV vaccination levels were inadequate to make the desired progress toward a world without cancer. Plus, racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities persisted across most major modifiable cancer risk factors and preventive measures. Every 2 years, researchers from the ACS analyze data from multiple national surveys to understand how many adults in the United States report behaviors that can affect their cancer risk or help find it early—because these efforts are central to reducing the cancer burden.