Pre-reading questions:
- Do you agree that cancer is one of the deadliest diseases of our time? Discuss.
- Do you think it’s possible to make a person completely immune to any form of cancer? Explain further.
Vocabulary:
- mortality [mawr-TAL-i-tee]
- decline [dih-KLAHYN]
- drive [drahyv]
- oncological [ong-KOL-uh-jee-kəl ]
- colorectal [koh-luh-REK-tl]
(noun) death
There’s a significant increase in mortality among children in this area due to malaria.
(verb) decrease
There is an obvious decline in the number of patients in this hospital.
(noun) a force that makes something happen
His family’s support has been his drive to achieving his career goals.
(adjective) relating to the study, treatment and prevention of tumors
His oncological studies have resulted in his discovery of an advanced treatment of lung cancer.
(adjective) relating to the colon and rectum
Eating too much red meat is associated with colorectal cancer.
A new study shows that cancer mortality rate in the US declined by 25 percent. Experts identify modern technological advances in early detection of cancer among patients, and the significant decline in smoking as the major drives to this trend. A noticeable decline in incidence from the four major oncological conditions is seen to be the force behind the decreasing death rates. The four major types of cancer are lung cancer, female breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Mortality rates between male and female differ because of the risk factors affecting each gender. While the mortality rate among women is steady, there is a decline of mortality among men by about 2% per year. The three most common cancers among women are breast, lung and colorectal. Those three represent half of all cases of cancer among women in the US. For men, prostate, lung and colorectal cancers are the most common.
Comprehension Questions:
- What does the new study show about cancer mortality rate in the US?
- What factors led to the current trend in cancer mortality rates in the US?
- What are the major oncological conditions in the US?
- Why do mortality rates between men and women in the US differ?
- What are the most common cancers for men in the US?
Discussion Questions:
- In general, what do you think about the content of the news above? Discuss further.
- Talk about the efforts your government or community has put into spreading cancer awareness in your area.
- What do you think is the best way to protect one’s self from cancer? Explain your answer.
- With the significant decline in cancer mortality rates in the US, what do you think should the government do next to maintain this development? Discuss.
- Do you agree that what we eat increases or decreases our chances of developing tumors that could lead to cancer? Explain your answer.