An ounce of prevention

Life expectancy worldwide increased dramatically in the 20th century. While most babies born in 1900 lived 50 years or less, life expectancies now exceed 80 years in several countries, and there is no indication of a tapering off of this trend in the 21st century. With the exception of immunizations, these increases are not as much attributable to medical breakthroughs as they are to changes in lifestyle and better living conditions including clean water and better nutrition (1). Can the same be said for decreases in cancer mortality