In 1998, Cancer incidence rates showed first sustained decline since the National Cancer Institute (NCI) began keeping records in 1973. The rates dropped 0.7% per year from 1990 to 1995. Cancer mortality rates continued to decline.

From 1992 through 1998, total cancer death rates declined in males and females, while cancer incidence rates declined only in males. Incidence rates in females increased slightly, largely because of breast cancer increases that occurred in some older age groups, possibly as a result of increased early detection.