Key Takeaways
- In 2021, an estimated 20.0 million new cancer cases (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers) occurred worldwide
- In 2021, an estimated 9.7 million cancer deaths occurred worldwide
- Prostate cancer is estimated to have 1.4 million new cases worldwide in 2020
- The global 5-year survival for breast cancer varies widely; the SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 90.3% for women diagnosed 2013-2019 (breast cancer overall)
- The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 28.5% for lung and bronchus cancer diagnosed 2013-2019
- The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 66.8% for colorectal cancer diagnosed 2013-2019
- The National Cancer Institute (NCI) states that for children with cancer, the overall 5-year survival rate is about 84%
- NCI states that about 1 in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before age 20
- NCI notes that in the U.S., most children with cancer are treated with chemotherapy, and many also receive surgery and/or radiation
- Global estimates indicate that about one-third of cancer deaths could be prevented through effective screening, vaccination, and risk-factor control
- WHO states that about 1 in 5 cancer deaths are linked to smoking
- WHO states that about 2 in 5 cancer cases are preventable
- In the US, the national median cost of cancer care can exceed $100,000 per person per year for some patients
- In a 2018 Health Care Cost Institute study, total cancer-related costs were $228.6 billion in 2015 in the United States
- In the US, in 2016 Medicare beneficiaries spent $36.2 billion for cancer care
Worldwide, 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths occurred in 2021.
Global Burden and Incidence
Global Burden and Incidence Interpretation
Treatment Outcomes and Survival
Treatment Outcomes and Survival Interpretation
Treatment Modalities and Utilization
Treatment Modalities and Utilization Interpretation
Prevention, Screening, and Risk Reduction
Prevention, Screening, and Risk Reduction Interpretation
Health System, Economics, Access, and Equity
Health System, Economics, Access, and Equity Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Min-ji Park. (2026, February 13). Cancer Treatment Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cancer-treatment-statistics
Min-ji Park. "Cancer Treatment Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/cancer-treatment-statistics.
Min-ji Park. 2026. "Cancer Treatment Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cancer-treatment-statistics.
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