An annual report on the status of cancer in the United States, focusing on lung cancer and smoking, shows Hawaii “;is doing quite well,”; says Marc Goodman at the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii.

For the first time since the first report was issued in 1998, the nation's major cancer organizations found both the incidence and death rates for all cancers combined are decreasing for men and women.

Goodman, head of the Hawaii Tumor Registry at the cancer center, noted that after Utah and New Mexico, men in Hawaii had the 49th-lowest death rate from lung cancer between 1996 and 2005 - a 1.3 percent decrease.

Hawaii women ranked 50th lowest for lung cancer deaths, with a drop of 0.4 percent.

“;For almost every state, there was a significant drop in mortality,”; Goodman said. “;We had been low for some time, so the reduction was not so dramatic.”;

Utah ranked lowest in lung cancer mortality for both men and women - 51st out of all states and the District of Columbia.

A look at adult and youth smoking prevalence showed Hawaii is spending 96.3 percent of the minimum recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on tobacco prevention.

“;It's not the best, but close to the best,”; Goodman said. Other states spent from 2.9 percent of the recommended amount to 123.8 percent.

Hawaii also is among the lower states for smokers.

The figures show a 2 percentage point drop in smoking among men 18 and older, from 21.5 percent in 1997 to 19.2 percent in 2006.

Smoking among women remained basically the same, with a prevalence of 15.8 percent in 1997 and 15.9 percent in 2006.

Survey results for boys and girls ages 12 to 17 showed cigarette use at 7.7 percent from 2004-2005, among the lowest in the nation.

The total federal and state tobacco tax in Hawaii in 2007 was reported at $2.41, and the state tax will go up another 13 cents per cigarette next year.

“;We are very hopeful that the tobacco tax will continue to work its effect,”; Goodman said. “;It's amazing in California to see how effective it has been.

“;California saw a meteoric decrease in tobacco-related cancer,”; Goodman said, pointing out 30 percent or so of cancers other than lung cancer are related to smoking.

The nation's major cancer organizations issued the annual cancer report, saying decreases in overall cancer cases and deaths are encouraging.

But they said large state and regional differences in lung cancer trends show some states should strengthen state tobacco control programs.

Death rates from cancer began to decline about 15 years ago - a trend that has continued.

Rates for all cancers combined dropped 0.8 percent per year from 1999 through 2005 for both sexes combined. Rates decreased 1.8 percent per year from 2001 through 2005 for men and 0.6 percent per year from 1998 through 2005 for women.

Cancer death rates overall were highest for African-Americans and lowest for Asian-Americans/Pacific Islanders, the report said.

Researchers attributed the decline in incidence and death rates for all cancers largely to declines in lung, colorectal and prostate cancers in men and breast and colorectal cancers in women, combined with a leveling of lung cancer death rates among women.

CDC Director Julie Gerberding said in a news release the progress in the fight against cancer is promising.

“;Unfortunately, tobacco use continues to plague our country, and it's the primary reason why lung cancer continues to rob too many people of a long, productive and healthy life,”; she said. “;We must recommit ourselves to implementing tobacco control programs that we know work if we are truly going to impact the staggering toll of tobacco on our society.”;