Cancer death rates continue to drop in U.S.

Washington - The death rate for melanoma continues to rise among women, while overall death rates from cancer continue to decline in the United States, according to the latest statistics.

Hispanics show lower-than-average rates of most cancers.

However, the rate of new cancer diagnoses remain unchanged in 2003, according to the annual joint report issued by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rates of colorectal, uterine, stomach and cervical cancer all continued to fall.

Lung cancer rates have fallen among men but risen among women.