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The big story is not the whole story. Consider the headline in the New York Times “US Cancer Death Rates Are Found To Be Falling”.  I’ll do back flips for the 5,000 people who aren’t going to die this year because of early detection. Scientists don’t know if the rate of decline will continue. Cancer is still the second leading cause of death in the U.S., after heart disease. Here’s the reality check: while some groups are seeing the benefits of early detection, others are still seeing their rates increase.  For example, while fewer men are being diagnosed with lung cancer, the rate increased for women. The number of women diagnosed with lung cancer rose from 54.7%  per 100,000 population to 55.2%. More women will die from lung cancer than breast cancer. This is why our poll asked the provocative question: Do more common cancers get an unfair share of the resources? It’s a tough question. We should not be lulled by the headlines. We should celebrate the lives saved. But we should remember the war against cancer is far from over.