Cancer Rates Have Plummeted 26 Percent, Study Says The American Cancer Society (ACS) reported that 2.4 million people have been spared from cancer since 2011. Some of the factors that contribute to this decline have been the reduction in smoking and early cancer screenings. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women screen for breast cancer at age 50 and men should consult their doctors before considering a prostate exam.