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Cancer in Maine
Half of all men and one-third of all women in our country will develop cancer in their lifetimes. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States.
The state of Maine has the highest cancer rate in the nation. According to the US Cancer Statistics report published in 2005, Maine had a rate of 510.3 cases of invasive cancer per 100,000 people - a rate that is much higher than the national average of 459.9 per every 100,000. The Maine Cancer Consortium predicts that over 7,500 Mainers will be diagnosed with cancer in the next year. Over 3,000 Mainers will die from cancer. Meanwhile, Maine's population is aging, and because the risk of having cancer increases as you get older, the number of cancer cases in our state will probably double by 2050.
For the first time in history, cancer has become the leading cause of death in Maine. One in every four deaths are due to cancer. There is good news, though. We can reduce cancer rates with lifestyle, dietary and health care decisions, such as quitting smoking and seeing a doctor at regular intervals. Early detection increases chances of long-term survival. People of all ages should undergo recommended cancer screening and learn the warning signs of cancer.
We invite you, your family and your friends to join the fight against cancer in your home and community.
This page of the Maine Health Forum is based on Cancer by Nancy C. McKeehan, M.S.L.S. Retrieved from Hands on Health-SC, 2007.
Reviewed for the Maine Health Forum by Dr. Burgess Record, MD on 8/13/2007.
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In This Section:
Maine Cancer News
More News>- Cancer patients to get help with treatment tripsBangor Daily News, 2/4/09
- A wish for better daysKennebec Journal, 1/20/09
- Calais firefighter finds bone marrow donorBangor Daily News, 1/14/09
National Cancer News
More National News- Cancer survivors often forgo care due to cost (Reuters) Yahoo! News, 2/5/09
- Adding Erbitux to colon cancer drug mix not helpful (Reuters) Yahoo! News, 2/4/09
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