Breast Cancer Mortality Rates Down

WASHINGTON--The breast cancer death rate in American women hasdeclined steadily in the 1990s, suggesting that improved breastcancer management from early detection to treatment is havinga beneficial effect, the National Cancer Institute reports.

From 1989 to 1993, age-adjusted mortality rates fell approximately6% in white women and rose about 1% in black women. This is animprovement over 1980 to 1989, when rates increased by 3% in whitewomen and 16% in black women.

The report attributed the decline in mortality only partly tomammography screening, stating that "further study is requiredto determine the relative contribution of early detection andimproved treatment."