Public-health experts are hopeful that the U.S. has reached a turning point on cancer, with total cancer deaths declining for the first time since 1930, the Associated Press reported Feb. 9.

Cancer deaths fell from 557,271 in 2002 to 556,902 in 2003, according to the latest review of death certificates by the National Center for Health Statistics. A decline in smoking and better cancer detection and treatment were credited. 

"Even though it's a small amount, it's an important milestone," said epidemiological researcher Michael Thun of the American Cancer Society.

The cancer death rate has actually been declining for a decade, but the total number of deaths still increased as the population grew. "Finally, the declining rates have surpassed the increasing size of the population," said the Cancer Society's Rebecca Siegel.

Deaths from lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer have all fallen 2-4 percent in recent years.