U.S. breast cancer rates fall

(New York-WABC, December 14, 2006) (WABC) -- For the first time in decades, researchers report a drop in breast cancer.

In 2003, the rate dropped more than seven percent. That was after a federal study linked menopause hormones to an increased risk of breast cancer. Experts said they believe it is because many women stopped taking hormone pills.

This analysis of federal cancer statistics was presented today at a breast cancer conference in Texas.

Researchers say around 200,000 cases of breast cancer had been expected in 2003. This drop, they say, means that about 14,000 fewer women actually were diagnosed with the disease.

Dr. Peter Ravdin, a breast cancer specialist at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center who led the new analysis, said the single year drop is extremely important.

"We don't know about whether or not it's going to be a trend but we know for this year it was a significant effect," he said.

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