Major Cancer Milestones

Major Cancer Milestones

1970–1979

Major Cancer Milestones

1970–1979Early 1970s: Increased use of radioactive ''seeds'' to target prostate and other cancers

Major Cancer Milestones

1970–1979Late 1960s–early 1970s: Screening tests for colorectal cancer dramatically reduce deaths

1971: National Cancer Act of 1971 becomes law

1971: More limited mastectomy proven effective for early-stage breast cancer

Major Cancer Milestones

1970–19791970s: CT scanning provides clearer images of tumors, guiding radiation and other treatments

Major Cancer Milestones

1970–19791970s: Use of cancer-causing asbestos declines

1975–1976: First adjuvant chemotherapy increases cure rates for early-stage breast cancer

Major Cancer Milestones

1970–19791977: New treatments cure men with testicular cancer

1977: Many women with breast cancer can opt for breast-conserving surgery

Late 1970s: Growing use of mammography saves lives

Major Cancer Milestones

1980–1989

Major Cancer Milestones

1980–19891981: First cancer vaccine prevents cancer-causing hepatitis B infection

Major Cancer Milestones

1980–19891982: Limited surgery helps rectal cancer patients avoid colostomies

Major Cancer Milestones

1980–19891986: PSA test enables early detection of prostate cancer

1986: Second-hand smoke formally declared a carcinogen

1986: Tamoxifen reduces breast cancer recurrence

1986: Global guidelines help ensure proper pain management

Major Cancer Milestones

1980–19891985–1991: Adjuvant therapy proven for colorectal cancer

Late 1980s: Benzene discovered to cause blood cancers

Major Cancer Milestones

1980–19891989: Drugs to boost blood cells help patients finish cancer treatment, reduce infections

Major Cancer Milestones

1990–1999

Major Cancer Milestones

1990–1999Early 1990s: Laparoscopic surgery minimizes pain, recovery time for several cancers

Early 1990s: Shift to 3-D radiation treatment plans increases precision, safety of therapy

Major Cancer Milestones

1990–1999Early 1990s: Cancer deaths begin steady decline

1991: Powerful anti-nausea drugs alleviate major side effect of cancer treatment

Major Cancer Milestones

1990–19991992: Sentinel lymph node biopsy determines cancer's spread with fewer side effects

Major Cancer Milestones

1990–19991970s–1990s: Melanoma linked to sun exposure

1992–1994: Taxanes emerge as a vital chemotherapy option for ovarian, breast cancer

Major Cancer Milestones

1990–19991997: FDA approves first-ever targeted cancer drug, rituximab

1997: Surgery found to cure some patients with advanced colon cancer

Late 1990s: Prophylactic surgery helps prevent breast and ovarian cancers in women at high risk

Major Cancer Milestones

1990–1999Late 1990s: New radiotherapy technique enables precise targeting of tumors near sensitive tissue

1998: Drug therapy can reduce breast cancer risk in women at high risk

1998: Treatment guidelines highlight obesity-cancer link

1998: Chemotherapy before surgery helps more women benefit from breast-conserving treatment

Major Cancer Milestones

1990–19991998, 2006: First targeted anti-breast cancer drug, trastuzumab (Herceptin), has major impact on care

Major Cancer Milestones

2000–Present

Major Cancer Milestones

2000–Present2000: Study links household radon exposure to lung cancer

Major Cancer Milestones

2000–Present2001: New targeted therapy transforms treatment for rare leukemia

2001: Imatinib found highly effective against rare gastrointestinal tumor

Major Cancer Milestones

2000–Present1998–2003: Doubling of U.S. biomedical research budget expands cancer research

Major Cancer Milestones

2000–Present2003: Scientists decode the human genome

2003: Obesity pinpointed as cause of many cancer deaths

2003, 2004: First targeted drugs for lung cancer attack ''EGFR'' receptor

Major Cancer Milestones

2000–Present2004: FDA approves first ''anti-angiogenic'' drug, bevacizumab

2004, 2006: Two targeted drugs approved for advanced colon cancer

2004–2005: Adjuvant therapy proven effective in lung cancer

Major Cancer Milestones

2000–Present2005: U.S. launches effort to map cancer genomes

2005: Research sheds light on long-term health problems of cancer survivors

Major Cancer Milestones

2000–Present2006: First vaccine approved to prevent cervical cancer

Major Cancer Milestones

2000–Present2009, 2010: Major studies report conflicting results about benefits of PSA testing

Major Cancer Milestones

2000–Present2010: CT scanning reduces lung cancer deaths among heavy smokers

2010: First drug shown to improve survival for patients with advanced melanoma

2010: Adding palliative care to standard chemotherapy improves survival for advanced lung cancer patients

2011: Record number of Americans surviving cancer – nearly 12 million

Major Cancer Milestones

Five-Year Survival

45

50

55

60

65

70

1975

1977

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

Year of Diagnosis

% o

f Pa

tien

ts S

urv

ivin

g F

ive

Ye

ars

Source: National Cancer Institute

Major Cancer Milestones

Mortality

165

175

185

195

205

215

225

1970

1973

1976

1979

1982

1985

1988

1991

1994

1997

2000

2003

2006

2009

Year of Death

Ca

nce

r D

ea

ths

pe

r 1

00

,00

0 P

eo

ple

Source: National Cancer Institute

Major Cancer Milestones

New Cases

364

384

404

424

444

464

484

504

524

1973

1975

1977

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

Year of Diagnosis

Ne

w C

an

cer

Ca

ses

pe

r 1

00

,00

0 P

eo

ple

Source: National Cancer Institute

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