HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED in March 1998 that, for the first time in nearly twenty years, the number of cases of all cancers combined, and of most of the leading types of cancer as well, had declined in the United States. The incidence (rate of occurrence) of all cancers had increased an average of 1.2 percent per year between 1973 and 1990, but it decreased an average of 0.7 percent yearly between 1990 and 1995.

Death rates from cancer are also decreasing. Overall death rates rose an average of 0.4 percent per year between 1973 and 1990 but dropped an average of 0.5 percent thereafter. Officials believe that the declines result from a mixture of prevention through lifestyle changes such as decreases in smoking, earlier detection through screening tests, and improvements in treatment.

Will there ever be a cure"

Does this good news, coupled with the reports of "breakthrough" treatments now undergoing testing, mean that cancer will be cured in...