Calls to Quitline Iowa double after state boosts cigarette tax

By TODD DVORAK, Associated Press Writer
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) -- Cancer researchers predict 6,400 Iowans will die from the disease this year, while another 15,700 others will be diagnosed with some form of cancer, according to a report released Wednesday.


Researchers also reported that the tobacco tax increase signed into law earlier this month by Gov. Chet Culver has more than doubled smokers' desire to quit the habit.

Since the tax went into effect last week, raising prices by $1 per pack, more than 150 smokers have contacted Quitline Iowa, up from 70 during the same period a year ago, according to figures provided by the cessation program.

"This legislation could do more for the prevention of cancer than any other passed by the Legislature the last five years," said Dr. John Lowe, a smoking researcher at the University of Iowa's Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The 2007 Cancer in Iowa report estimates that more men than women will die from cancer and be diagnosed with the disease this year.

Breast, lung and colon and rectum will likely remain the top three causes of cancer related deaths and new cases for women in 2007.

For men, the report predicts that prostate, lung and colon and rectum will be the most common cause of cancer deaths and new cases. Projections for men and women track trends of previous years and lung cancer remains the leading killer in both genders, accounting for three of every 10 deaths, figures show.

Researchers also say more lives are being saved from cancer deaths in the state, estimated at 3,066 since 1997. That projection is based on a formula using mortality rates in Iowa from 1994-96, which serves as baseline data, and mortality rates from 2003-05, the most recent years such data is available.

"It's a comparison of the number of deaths we have with what we thought we'd have given the data of 1994 through 1996," said Dr. Charles Lynch, director of state Health Registry of Iowa.

The most significant improvement in mortality rates are tied to prostate cancer, down 28 percent and female breast cancer, down 24 percent.

The decline in lung cancer deaths is just 2 percent, though Lynch said given its prevalence, estimates show the slight decline accounts for 982 lives saved in men. However, he said 323 more women have died from lung cancer than expected.

"This is because of the difference in incidents rates for lung cancer, which are still increasing in women, while declining in men," Lynch said.