Cancer Replaces Heart Disease As North Carolina's Number One Killer

Cancer is now the top cause of death in North Carolina, and in many other states around the country. That's according to the American Cancer Society's annual report, released this week.

This report is something of a mixed bag, but there are some positive takeaways.

The national cancer death rate dropped 23 percent between 1991 and 2012 because of improvements in prevention and early detection.

Meanwhile, heart disease is still the top killer nationwide. But in North Carolina and 21 other states, cancer is now number one.

The American Cancer Society attributes the shift to what it calls “exceptional gains made in the progress against heart disease.” That's good news.

Still, the fight against both maladies is ongoing.

The ACS predicts North Carolina will see more than 54,000 new cases of cancer this year, with breast and lung cancer among the most common. It also expects nearly 20,000 cancer-related deaths.

Nationwide, the report predicts more than 595,000 people will die from cancer in 2016, with lung cancer responsible for more than a quarter of those deaths.