It’s way too early to pop the cork off the champagne bottle. Cancer is still lethal. Many look at cancer as the boogeyman of diseases and conditions. Cancer is a mighty foe. It has the strength of a heavyweight prize fighter. Yet research shows more people are living with this disease.

Government health officials say there are far more cancer survivors these days, as reported by Steven Reinberg , of HealthDay.

Reinberg’s article points to several reasons for the encouraging numbers: earlier diagnosis, better diagnostic methods, better treatment and more follow-up care. Yet the article suggests some cancers remain hard to detect early.

I don’t know if there is going to be a cure for cancer during my lifetime (I’m 56).  I’m neither a doctor nor a specialist, but I’m guessing it will take several more decades to come close to a cure. I hope it’s sooner. I wouldn’t be surprised if cancer (most, if not all forms) becomes more of a chronic disease, which can be treated and managed over one’s lifetime.  That might be the next step before an actual cure.

For now, live a healthful lifestyle and get your cancer screenings.