The 2006 Cancer Statistics report estimates that 1,399,790 new cancer cases and 564,830 cancer deaths will occur in the United States. Cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death for those under 85 since 1999. Cancer incidence rates stabilized in men from 1995 to 2002 but continued to increase in women. From 2002 to 2003, cancer deaths decreased by 369 overall, the first decrease since 1930. Cancer death rates have decreased by 1.5% per year in men and 0.8% per year in women since 1993. Mortality rates for the three most common cancers in men and breast and colon/rectum cancers in women have continued to decline. However, lung cancer mortality among women has slightly increased. African American men and women have 40% and 18% 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. Cancer is the second leading cause of death among children aged 1 to 14 in the United States, with accidents being the most frequent cause of death. The most common cancers in children are leukemia, brain and other nervous system cancers, soft tissue sarcomas, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and renal tumors. Over the past 25 years, there have been significant improvements in the 5-year relative survival rate for many childhood cancers. Cancer death rates vary significantly around the world, with high rates in certain countries for specific cancers. The estimates of new cancer cases and deaths should be interpreted cautiously due to potential variations from year to year and limitations in data representation. Age-standardized or age-specific cancer death rates from the National Center for Health Statistics and cancer incidence rates from SEER are the preferred data sources for tracking cancer trends.The 2006 Cancer Statistics report estimates that 1,399,790 new cancer cases and 564,830 cancer deaths will occur in the United States. Cancer has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death for those under 85 since 1999. Cancer incidence rates stabilized in men from 1995 to 2002 but continued to increase in women. From 2002 to 2003, cancer deaths decreased by 369 overall, the first decrease since 1930. Cancer death rates have decreased by 1.5% per year in men and 0.8% per year in women since 1993. Mortality rates for the three most common cancers in men and breast and colon/rectum cancers in women have continued to decline. However, lung cancer mortality among women has slightly increased. African American men and women have 40% and 18% 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. Cancer is the second leading cause of death among children aged 1 to 14 in the United States, with accidents being the most frequent cause of death. The most common cancers in children are leukemia, brain and other nervous system cancers, soft tissue sarcomas, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and renal tumors. Over the past 25 years, there have been significant improvements in the 5-year relative survival rate for many childhood cancers. Cancer death rates vary significantly around the world, with high rates in certain countries for specific cancers. The estimates of new cancer cases and deaths should be interpreted cautiously due to potential variations from year to year and limitations in data representation. Age-standardized or age-specific cancer death rates from the National Center for Health Statistics and cancer incidence rates from SEER are the preferred data sources for tracking cancer trends.