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Cancer mortality down in Delaware, still high among other states

University of Delaware

Fewer people in Delaware are dying from cancer, according to new statistics, but the cancer death rate is still about 10 percent higher than the national average.

From 2008-2012, the number of people dying from cancer in Delaware declined by 14 percent from a decade ago.

That’s on par with the U.S. average decline, but the total cancer death rate is still more than 10 percent higher than the national average as a whole.

Dr. Karyl Rattay, who heads Delaware’s Public Health department, says early cancer screenings, a healthy diet and regular exercise are difficult, but effective.

“We really, in our society, right now kind of want quick fixes to everything, but the reality is it takes work to make healthy lifestyle choices,” Rattay said.

She says one solution could be to increase the cost of a pack of cigarettes.

“We know a lot of people don’t want to talk about taxation, but in all actuality, it can be a very powerful public health tool because it does impact whether or not people are going to use cigarettes, for example,” Rattay said.

Smoking rates have stayed steady over the past four years at nearly 20 percent, but use of e-cigarettes among high schoolers has risen dramatically during that same time period -- from about two percent to nearly 25 percent.

Rattay says early screenings have also helped stem cancer rates, which she recommends discussing with your doctor at your next check up.

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