Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975–2005, featuring trends in lung cancer, tobacco use, and tobacco control
Overall cancer incidence in the U.S. has decreased for the first time since cancer reporting began in 1998, according to a new report from the National Cancer Institute. From 1999 to 2005, overall cancer incidence dropped 0.8%. Lung cancer deaths among men have been decreasing since the 1990s, but deaths among women have leveled off, possibly because smoking became popular later among women. There were significant state and regional disparities in the lung cancer statistics; lung cancer incidence and mortality has increased in 18 states, most of which are located in the Midwest and South. Many of these states have a high smoking prevalence, and do not have strong tobacco control laws. The report highlights the importance of tobacco control and prevention in reducing cancer deaths. Click here to read a summary of the report, or click here to read the full report, which is published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Click here for a statement from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which describes tobacco control and prevention measures that will hasten further declines in tobacco use and tobacco-related cancers.

America’s Health RankingsTM 2008
For the fourth straight year, America’s health has not changed, according to the 19th annual America's Health Rankings report. After an average health improvement of 1.5% per year in the 1990s, national health indicators have stagnated. Although the national smoking rate declined 33% between 1990 and 2008, the smoking rate has not changed in the past four years. Southern states remained the unhealthiest, mainly due to high smoking rates and obesity, with Louisiana coming in last. Vermont, which has the third-highest healthcare spending in the country, and a lower prevalence of obesity than the national average, was named as the healthiest state. The national report, which ranks states based on 22 health indicators, is the longest-running report of its kind, and is produced in a partnership between the United Health Foundation, American Public Health Association, and Partnership for Prevention. Click here for a brief summary of the findings, or click here to visit the America’s Health RankingsTM website, which provides data on national trends, State Snapshots for 2008 and previous years, information on current health initiatives, and success stories on past health improvements.

Institute of Medicine report:  The U.S. Commitment to Global Health
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report in December that outlines goals and objectives in a vision for the U.S. government and private organizations to promote global health. The report describes gaps in existing health campaigns and identifies priorities for improving health in the U.S. and abroad. Chronic disease prevention is named as a priority, as chronic illnesses account for nearly half the disease burden in low- and middle-income countries. The report recommends raising tobacco taxes as an effective prevention strategy, and suggests an annual U.S. investment of $2 billion to support global chronic disease prevention. This report was developed by an independent committee of experts, with input from the public and support from U.S. Government agencies and several private foundations. Click here to read more, or click here to access the report.

Media Bombardment is linked to ill effects during childhood
Researchers from the Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. and Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. found strong connections between media exposure and problems of childhood obesity and tobacco use. Nearly as strong was the link to early sexual behavior. The findings of this study are particularly worrisome since The average modern child spends nearly 45 hours a week with television, movies, magazines, music, the Internet, cellphones and video games. To read more about the study, click here. The view the report, click here.

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International

Men's smoking rate halved since '80s, figures show (Australia)
The latest edition of the Tobacco in Australia report indicates that smoking and lung cancer deaths have decreased dramatically since 1980. This report is an update of a similar 1995 report on Australia’s tobacco use statistics. Since 1980, the prevalence of smoking declined from 40% to 21% among males, and from 29% to 18% among women. Smoking declined most dramatically among young adults aged 18-24, a group that had previously been notorious for its tobacco use. The report ties this progress to antismoking health education campaigns and smokefree policies, which have decreased the social desirability of smoking. Looking to the future, the report suggests that more policy changes are needed to promote further declines in smoking rates. The report calls for stronger smokefree laws, increased cigarette taxes, health warnings on cigarette packaging, and restrictions against tobacco promotions. The report was produced in collaboration between Australian Health Departments and various public health organizations. Click here for more information. Click here to access the Tobacco in Australia report.

Indonesia Islamic body to debate ban on smoking (Indonesia)
At a national meeting in January 2009, the leading Indonesian Islamic body will decide whether to issue a fatwa banning Muslims from smoking. The Indonesian Ulemas Council, known as MUI, has been hesitant to issue a ban, since smoking is not explicitly forbidden by the Muslim holy book, the Koran. However, the group is considering this move because of the severe health consequences associated with smoking. The decision from the MUI could significantly impact the nation’s health, as Indonesia is the world’s fifth-largest tobacco market, and is home to the largest Muslim population in the world. The Indonesian government has largely overlooked tobacco control, partly because of concerns about the economic implications of alienating the tobacco industry. The country has not yet ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), cigarette prices are among the lowest in the world, and the nation’s few existing local smoke-free laws are often ignored. Read more here.

NHS at risk of becoming 'unsustainable' (UK)
UK think tank The King’s Fund warns that the National Health Service (NHS) must do more to promote healthy lifestyles, or else the costs of tobacco-related illnesses could bankrupt the nation’s health funds. The King’s Fund reports that current efforts, which include national investments of £6 billion in disease treatment and £50 million for health promotion campaigns, have not been sufficient. The report recommends a greater emphasis on customized local approaches to behavior change rather than a national tobacco use prevention strategy, and it is suggested that the NHS should rely more heavily on the efforts of local health agencies to identify and target socially-driven factors that lead to unhealthy behaviors in communities. Social marketing is recommended as a valuable health promotion tool. Additionally, cues can be taken from commercial marketing practices, which use geodemographics to profile the lifestyles of local communities and target campaigns accordingly. Finally, the report recommends strengthening the evaluation component of health interventions in order to build a stronger evidence base to support specific behavioral strategies. Click here to read more.

Despite US drop, cancer rates grow worldwide
The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently released the World Cancer Report, which includes data on global cancer incidence and death rates. In the U.S., for the first time ever, there were decreases in cancer incidence and deaths for both men and women. While the report is encouraging for Americans, the global figures are alarming; cancer deaths have more than doubled over the past 30 years, and the cancer burden is growing in developing countries, most of which is ill-equipped to respond to such a healthcare crisis. If recent trends in disease incidence continue, cancer will overtake cardiovascular and heart disease as the world’s leading killer by 2030. Preventing cancer abroad will be a challenge because of differing risk factors; in some countries, the most common cancers are associated with viruses that increase the risk of cancer. The most common cancers in Africa are Kaposi's sarcoma (related to HIV infection), liver cancer (associated with hepatitis), and cervical cancer, which is related to HPV. Smoking has recently grown in popularity in China, which is expected to significantly increase the nation’s cancer rates in the coming years. Click here to read more about the IARC report, or click here to access the World Cancer Report.

Cancer organizations team up for global cancer fight
In teaming with the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to release the World Cancer Report, U.S. health groups the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and the Lance Armstrong Foundation concurrently released an action plan for global cancer prevention. The action plan includes six steps the U.S. can take to prevent the report’s projected increase in cancer incidence: improve access to vaccines that prevent cancer-causing infections, commit to a comprehensive tobacco control program, ratify the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control FCTC, support the efforts of NGOs to build advocacy and reduce suffering, promote culturally sensitive prevention and education, and invest in cancer research, and promote prevention and screening. Click here to read more about this call to action.

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