Wilmington, DE - Senator Tom Carper today applauded the fact that new figures released today by Delaware Health and Social Services' (DHSS) Division of Public Health (DPH) show that Delaware's cancer incidence rate fell for the fifth consecutive time while the state's cancer mortality rate declined for the sixth consecutive time. The figures cover up to the year 2000 - Carper's last as Governor. The Senator said that the good news is a call to further action. "The success of the fight against cancer will be measured in generations, not years, but this is great news indeed. However, the fight is far from over and we must all continue our efforts to ensure this trend continues. It is a call to action, not a time to rest," Carper said. CANCER INCIDENCE RATES* 1991-95 531.6 1992-96 526.1 1993-97 518.4 1994-98 512.4 1995-99 504.1 1996-2000 491.5 CANCER MORTALITY RATES* 1990-94 243.4 1991-95 240.8 1992-96 239.6 1993-97 236.1 1994-98 231.3 1995-99 228.4 1996-2000 221.8 (Rates refers to cases per 100,000) As Governor, Carper took a number of steps to reduce cancer incidence and mortality rates. He helped create the Delaware Health Fund, funded by tobacco settlement, to expand access to health care, enhance the health care information structure, promote healthy lifestyles (including ceasing the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs), promote preventative care to detect cancer and other tobacco-related diseases, and fund the "pill bill" which helps over 5,000 seniors manage the cost of their prescription drugs. Carper also signed laws requiring health insurance contracts (non-Erisa) to cover mammograms, CA-125 monitoring of ovarian cancer subsequent to treatment, colorectal cancer screenings, and "pap" smear cancer screenings. He signed a law providing full health insurance deductibility for small businesses and the Clean Indoor Air Act in June of 1994 that banned or restricts smoking in most public places and provides penalties for non-compliance. ###