Here is the top 10 cancer news of 2009:

No. 10: Senator Chris Dodd was diagnosed with prostate cancer

Senator Chris Dodd was diagnosed with prostate cancer on July 31, 2009. He had a successful surgery on August 11, 2009, at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York City and was released from hospital on August 15, 2009.

No. 9: President Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

President Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act on June 22, 2009. Lung cancer accounted for more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer combined. 90% of lung cancer is caused by tobacco smoking. Tobacco control will likely have impact on incidences of lung cancer.

No. 8: Morbidity and mortality of major cancers trend down for third year in a row

Preliminary data show that the morbidity and mortality of major cancers continue to decrease in 2009.

No. 7: Farrah Fawcett died of anal cancer

Farrah Fawcett was a multiple Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actress.  Farrah's Story (2009) is a TV documentary film showing Farrah Fawcett's three-year battle with cancer. She died of anal cancer on June 25, 2009.

No. 6: CT scan causes cancer

Computed tomography, or CT, scan overexposes patients to radiation and may results in significant number of cancers.

No. 5: Patrick Swayze died of pancreatic cancer

Patrick Swayze became an American icon from his performance in Dirty Dancing, The Beast, and the Outsiders and Ghost etc. He died of pancreatic cancer on September 14, 2009.

No. 4: Cell phone causes brain cancer?

News that cell phone causes or doesn’t cause cancer continues to appear in media in 2009. More study is certainly needed, particularly correlation between brain cancer and very long-term exposure to cell phone radiation.

No. 3: Senate Edward Kennedy died of brain cancer

Senate Edward Kennedy died of brain cancer on August 25, 2009.

No. 2: Mammograms begin at age 50 instead of age 40

The newest guidelines issued by US Preventive Services Task Force recommend that mammograms begin at age 50 instead of age 40. This suggestion results in intensive public scrutiny.

No. 1: Genetic map for lung cancer was established

Scientists decipher the genetic codes that are responsible for lung cancer. In the coming decade, genetic maps of all cancers may be decoded. Cancer gene maps lay a solid foundation for future cancer medicine and would drive significant advances for cancer diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.