The 2005 Cancer Statistics report by the American Cancer Society provides updated data on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival in the United States. It estimates that 1,372,910 new cancer cases and 570,280 deaths will occur in 2005. Cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death for people under 85 since 1999. Cancer incidence rates stabilized in men from 1995 to 2001 but continued to increase in women. Death rates from all cancers decreased by 1.5% per year in men and 0.8% per year in women since 1993 and 1992, respectively. Cancer mortality rates have continued to decrease for the three most common cancer sites in men and for breast and colorectal cancers in women. Lung cancer mortality among women has leveled off after many years of increase. African American men and women have 40% and 20% higher cancer death rates than White men and women, respectively. Cancer incidence and death rates are lower in other racial and ethnic groups than in Whites and African Americans for all sites combined and for the four major cancer sites. However, these groups generally have higher rates for stomach, liver, and cervical cancers than Whites. Minority populations are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage disease than Whites. Progress in reducing the burden of cancer can be accelerated by applying existing cancer control knowledge across all segments of the population. The report also provides data on cancer survival by race, showing that African American men and women have poorer survival rates once diagnosed with cancer. The 5-year relative survival rate is lower in African Americans than in Whites at each stage of diagnosis for nearly every cancer site. These disparities may result from inequalities in access to and receipt of quality health care and/or differences in comorbidities. Recent findings suggest that when African Americans receive similar cancer treatment and medical care as Whites, they tend to have similar disease outcomes. The report also includes data on cancer in children, noting that cancer is the second leading cause of death among children aged 1 to 14 in the United States. The most commonly occurring cancers in children are leukemia, brain and other nervous system cancers, soft tissue sarcomas, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and renal (Wilms) tumor. Over the past 25 years, there have been significant improvements in the 5-year relative survival rate for many childhood cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, and Wilms tumor. The 5-year relative survival rate among children for all cancer sites combined improved from 56% for patients diagnosed in 1974 to 1976 to 79% for those diagnosed in 1995 to 2000. The report alsoThe 2005 Cancer Statistics report by the American Cancer Society provides updated data on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival in the United States. It estimates that 1,372,910 new cancer cases and 570,280 deaths will occur in 2005. Cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death for people under 85 since 1999. Cancer incidence rates stabilized in men from 1995 to 2001 but continued to increase in women. Death rates from all cancers decreased by 1.5% per year in men and 0.8% per year in women since 1993 and 1992, respectively. Cancer mortality rates have continued to decrease for the three most common cancer sites in men and for breast and colorectal cancers in women. Lung cancer mortality among women has leveled off after many years of increase. African American men and women have 40% and 20% higher cancer death rates than White men and women, respectively. Cancer incidence and death rates are lower in other racial and ethnic groups than in Whites and African Americans for all sites combined and for the four major cancer sites. However, these groups generally have higher rates for stomach, liver, and cervical cancers than Whites. Minority populations are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage disease than Whites. Progress in reducing the burden of cancer can be accelerated by applying existing cancer control knowledge across all segments of the population. The report also provides data on cancer survival by race, showing that African American men and women have poorer survival rates once diagnosed with cancer. The 5-year relative survival rate is lower in African Americans than in Whites at each stage of diagnosis for nearly every cancer site. These disparities may result from inequalities in access to and receipt of quality health care and/or differences in comorbidities. Recent findings suggest that when African Americans receive similar cancer treatment and medical care as Whites, they tend to have similar disease outcomes. The report also includes data on cancer in children, noting that cancer is the second leading cause of death among children aged 1 to 14 in the United States. The most commonly occurring cancers in children are leukemia, brain and other nervous system cancers, soft tissue sarcomas, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and renal (Wilms) tumor. Over the past 25 years, there have been significant improvements in the 5-year relative survival rate for many childhood cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, and Wilms tumor. The 5-year relative survival rate among children for all cancer sites combined improved from 56% for patients diagnosed in 1974 to 1976 to 79% for those diagnosed in 1995 to 2000. The report also