Before being diagnosed with breast cancer in the year 2005, Thea North says that she could not think of the disease that would attack her.

“I never gave cancer a thought”, she told KPSP Local 2. Five years afterwards, and now in lessening phase, North is amongst the rising number of cancer survivors.

She said that the condition has evaporated and would not make a comeback.

The American Cancer Society, in its 2010 account on facts and figures, says whilst cancer remains a major public health trouble in the nation, death rates are still making a downwards trend.

They've plunged by 21% amongst men, from 1991-2006, and 12.3% amongst women during the same period.

Researchers sing all praises for the better treatments available nowadays through earlier detection.

Dr. Lawrence Leichman of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Desert Regional Medical Center said that there is an obvious need to stop the presence of smoking practice in people.

In spite of the progress, he says a lot still needs to be done to get the best.

If high school smoking, second hand smoking and all of that could be stopped, then it would bring a drastic positive change.