A new study suggests that the rate of deaths from cancer appears to be declining worldwide.
Researchers analyzed data from death certificated in 60 countries between 2000 and 2010.
Over this time period the total number of cancer deaths increased due to the growing world population and the fact that people are living longer.
However, the number of deaths per 100,000 people, the rate of cancer deaths, declined by about 1% per year.
The study found that there was a particular decrease in the rate of deaths from stomach cancer in almost all countries, a decrease in lung cancer deaths among men and a decrease in breast and prostate cancer deaths in developed countries.
Researchers believe that a part of the reason for the overall decline may be the decreasing smoking rates in developed countries, along with improved early detection and treatment of cancer.
The study also found that the death rate from lung cancer increased among women in most countries. The increase may be attributed to women in these countries now adapting the smoking habits that were formerly seen among men.
In addition, the rate of deaths from some cancers increased in less-developed countries. There was an increase in the rate of breast cancer deaths among women in less-developed countries.
The findings suggest that even though the rate of death from cancer is on the decline in developed countries, there could conversely be an increase of some cancer deaths in some developing countries.
In order to verify that the estimates were as accurate as possible, researchers included information only from countries that had reliable data from death certificates. However this determination meant that a number of countries were not included in the study.
