Which of the following malignancies have declined in incidence in the United States over the past two decades?

b. Gastric carcinoma

c. Endometrial carcinoma

b. Gastric carcinoma c. Endometrial carcinoma

Estimates of cancer incidence in the United States reveal that in men, lung, prostate, and colorectal carcinomas have the highest incidence. Breast carcinoma accounts for 29% of all cancer in women, followed by colorectal, lung, and uterine carcinomas. From 1973 to 1987, there was a 15% increase in incidence for all cancer sites. Cutaneous melanoma showed the greatest increase at 83%, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and prostate carcinoma followed with increases of about 50%. Only a few cancers declined in incidence over the same interval. Carcinoma of the cervix showed the greatest reduction at 36%, followed by endometrial carcinoma and gastric carcinoma. The reduction in carcinoma of the cervix is likely due to the early detection and treatment of cervical dysplasia resulting from the widespread use of routine cervical cytological screening.