Cancer is now the No. 1 killer of Americans under 85, according to a report by the American Cancer Society released Jan. 19.

The society's data on 2002 found 476,009 Americans under 85 died from cancer while 450,637 died from heart disease. The society's Cancer Facts and Figures 2005 report estimates more people in this age group will die from cancer than heart disease again in 2005. The 2002 numbers are the most recent hard data the society has to work with.

However, cancer remains the second-highest killer of the overall American population, behind heart disease. Nicole Bennett Engler, community relations coordinator in the Midwest division of the society, stressed that cancer still cannot be called the top killer of Americans.

"The data only shows that in 2002, cancer surpassed heart disease as the No. 1 killer of Americans under 85," she said. "Overall, cancer still remains the No. 2 cause of death."

Cancer accounts for about one in four American deaths, according to the report. It projects 570,280 Americans will die of cancer in 2005.

The American Heart Association issued a statement the day the Cancer Facts and Figures 2005 report was released, stating heart disease is still the biggest killer of Americans. According to the statement, 696,946 Americans died from heart disease and 557,271 died from cancer in 2002.

"Heart disease is still the No. 1 cause of death if you're not excluding everyone over 85," said Carole Bullock, senior communications manager with the association.

Whether or not it is responsible for deaths of most Americans, cancer patients have a greater chance of surviving the disease today than 30 years ago.

According to the report, cancer patients diagnosed between 1995 and 2000 have a 64 percent five-year survival rate. From 1975-1976, the number was only 50 percent.

"The reason survivorship is increasing is earlier detection and improved or new cancer treatments," Engler said.

As cancer survival rates increase, Bullock said Americans with heart disease are seeing greater chances of surviving as well. However, the reason for the decrease in deaths is unclear.

"I'm sure less people smoking is part of the reason," Bullock said. "Nobody can really say for sure; some are saying there are better treatments now, some say people are recognizing symptoms."

The American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association have combined with the American Diabetes Association in efforts to inform the public about the severity of their respective diseases, according to the American Heart Association's statement.

The statement said the diseases the groups fight account for nearly two out of every three American deaths.

Marquette students say the important thing is not whether cancer or heart disease kills more people.

"I would have thought it was heart disease," said Katie Kisiolek, sophomore in the College of Business Administration. "But the main thing is that we work so neither are killing so many people."

A significant factor helping fewer people die from heart disease is making people aware of symptoms, according to Bullock.

"There's more pubic awareness about heart disease and people are becoming more conscious of their health," she said.

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Jan. 25 2005.