Washington (SmartAboutHealth) - The rate of new cancer cases diagnosed in the U.S has declined for the first time in the history of the U.S.

Since statistics first started to be kept, the rates of cancer cases and deaths from cancer have gone up every year.

For the first time ever though, statistics released have shown that cancer cases have dropped, along with deaths from cancer.

The American Cancer Society has reported that from 1999 to 2005, the cancer rate in the U.S. has dropped 0.8%.

They have also found that the death rate from cancer has dropped 1.8% each year from 2002 to 2005.

For men, decreases were seen in lung cancer, prostate cancer, and for women drops were seen for breast cancer and colorectal cancer cases.

This shows the fight against cancer is making serious progress, as the trend could continue.