Cancer cases are climbing, but fewer patients are dying, Nebraska experts say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – With new treatments and more testing than ever before, cancer deaths are down across the country.

The American Cancer Society said deaths from cancer have declined by 30% since 1991.

But this year, new cancer diagnoses are expected to reach 2 million for the first time ever, according to the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Eric Avery with Nebraska Hematology Oncology said while the cause of the increase isn’t certain, better testing has probably contributed to catching more cases.

“In Lincoln, we’re very fortunate because we have some of the best screening numbers in the region and really, in some ways, across the country,” he said. “But you got to communicate with your primary care and other providers and physicians about how to best put yourself at low risk.”

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Avery said men are being asked to get colonoscopies starting at age 45 now instead of 50 because more patients are being diagnosed with colon cancer at a younger age.

He added that breast cancer diagnoses are also up, so it’s important for women to get mammograms regularly.

The American Cancer Society recommends starting at age 45, unless you have a history of breast cancer in your family.

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Diane Vrana, a patient at Nebraska Hematology Oncology, said getting a mammogram is what led doctors to finding her pancreatic cancer last November.

“I went for some tests in David City and they told me I was yellow, had jaundice,” she said.

So Vrana went to her doctor for blood tests and found out that she was sick.

“I felt fine before, so this was a shock to find out,” she said.

Vrana said she’s glad doctors were able to catch it when they did, and the treatments are going well so far.

“They told me I can fight it, so I guess that’s what I’m going to do,” she said.

Joann Sweasy, director of the Fred and Pamela Buffet Cancer Center in Omaha, said better treatments have likely led to the decline in deaths over the years.

“Most children died of leukemia decades ago, and now it’s really rare,” she said. “We have such incredible therapies today, so many things that we can use to treat a cancer, that it’s definitely not a death sentence at all.”

Sweasy and Avery agree that getting screened should be part of your routine checkups every year.

“Early detection saves lives,” she said. “If we can detect a cancer early, we can do a lot to treat and usually cure it.”