Cancer Treatment Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Cancer Treatment Statistics

Cancer burden is rising fast, with about 20.0 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths worldwide in 2021, while treatment outcomes vary sharply by cancer type and stage. This page puts the biggest causes and survival gaps side by side, from prostate and lung incidence to the stark 5-year survival differences for lung, colorectal, and breast cancer, so you can see where care is advancing and where it still lags.

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

In 2021, an estimated 20.0 million new cancer cases (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers) occurred worldwide

Statistic 2

In 2021, an estimated 9.7 million cancer deaths occurred worldwide

Statistic 3

Prostate cancer is estimated to have 1.4 million new cases worldwide in 2020

Statistic 4

Lung cancer is estimated to have 2.2 million new cases worldwide in 2020

Statistic 5

Breast cancer is estimated to have 2.3 million new cases worldwide in 2020

Statistic 6

Colorectal cancer is estimated to have 1.9 million new cases worldwide in 2020

Statistic 7

Liver cancer is estimated to have 0.9 million new cases worldwide in 2020

Statistic 8

Stomach cancer is estimated to have 1.0 million new cases worldwide in 2020

Statistic 9

Cervical cancer is estimated to have 0.6 million new cases worldwide in 2020

Statistic 10

Ovarian cancer is estimated to have 0.3 million new cases worldwide in 2020

Statistic 11

Pancreatic cancer is estimated to have 0.5 million new cases worldwide in 2020

Statistic 12

Kidney cancer is estimated to have 0.4 million new cases worldwide in 2020

Statistic 13

Uterine cancer is estimated to have 0.4 million new cases worldwide in 2020

Statistic 14

Non-melanoma skin cancer is not included in the GLOBOCAN 2020 estimates shown by IARC

Statistic 15

Worldwide, colorectal cancer accounts for about 10% of all new cancer cases in 2020

Statistic 16

Worldwide, breast cancer accounts for about 11.7% of all new cancer cases in 2020

Statistic 17

Worldwide, lung cancer accounts for about 11.4% of all new cancer cases in 2020

Statistic 18

Worldwide, prostate cancer accounts for about 7.3% of all new cancer cases in 2020

Statistic 19

Worldwide, liver cancer accounts for about 3.2% of all new cancer cases in 2020

Statistic 20

In 2018, there were 18.1 million new cancer cases globally (IARC GLOBOCAN 2018 estimate)

Statistic 21

In 2018, there were 9.6 million cancer deaths globally (IARC GLOBOCAN 2018 estimate)

Statistic 22

In 2018, there were 14.0 million cancer deaths forecast by 2030 without scale-up efforts (WHO global cancer burden projection for 2030)

Statistic 23

WHO estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases in 2020 worldwide

Statistic 24

WHO estimated 10.0 million cancer deaths in 2020 worldwide

Statistic 25

WHO projected that by 2040 there will be 28.4 million new cases annually

Statistic 26

WHO projected that by 2040 there will be 16.3 million cancer deaths annually

Statistic 27

In the US, an estimated 1,918,030 new cancer cases are projected for 2022

Statistic 28

In the US, an estimated 609,820 cancer deaths are projected for 2022

Statistic 29

In the US, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetimes (lifetime risk)

Statistic 30

In the US, men have a lifetime risk of 1 in 2 and women have a lifetime risk of 1 in 3 for cancer diagnosis

Statistic 31

In the US, it is estimated that 1,735,350 people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2018

Statistic 32

In the US, it is estimated that 609,640 people will die of cancer in 2018

Statistic 33

In the US, about 15.9 million cancer survivors were alive on January 1, 2016

Statistic 34

In the US, about 17.9 million cancer survivors were alive on January 1, 2020

Statistic 35

Cancer is expected to become the leading cause of death worldwide by 2070

Statistic 36

Globally in 2020, an estimated 10.0 million cancer deaths occurred in males

Statistic 37

Globally in 2020, an estimated 9.3 million cancer deaths occurred in females

Statistic 38

By 2020, global cancer incidence for both sexes combined is estimated at about 19.3 million new cases (WHO)

Statistic 39

By 2020, global cancer mortality for both sexes combined is estimated at about 10.0 million deaths (WHO)

Statistic 40

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)

Statistic 41

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 28.5% for lung and bronchus cancer diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 42

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 66.8% for colorectal cancer diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 43

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 99.0% for prostate cancer diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 44

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 69.0% for urinary bladder cancer diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 45

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 51.5% for kidney and renal pelvis cancer diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 46

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 63.1% for melanoma of the skin diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 47

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 67.9% for non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 48

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 88.7% for Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 49

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 51.2% for leukemia (all types) diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 50

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 68.6% for thyroid cancer diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 51

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 46.8% for pancreas cancer diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 52

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 67.1% for uterine corpus cancer diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 53

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 47.3% for ovarian cancer diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 54

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 68.0% for liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 55

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 33.0% for stomach cancer diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 56

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 22.4% for esophageal cancer diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 57

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 58.8% for head and neck cancers diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 58

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 66.3% for multiple myeloma diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 59

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 63.0% for larynx cancer diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 60

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 60.9% for prostate cancer localized to prostate

Statistic 61

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 30.8% for prostate cancer regional

Statistic 62

The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 5.2% for prostate cancer distant

Statistic 63

For melanoma of the skin, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 99.1% for localized disease diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 64

For melanoma of the skin, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 27.7% for distant disease diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 65

For colorectal cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 90.2% for localized disease diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 66

For colorectal cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 13.9% for distant disease diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 67

For lung and bronchus cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 63.1% for localized disease diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 68

For lung and bronchus cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 8.7% for distant disease diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 69

For breast cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 99.0% for localized disease diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 70

For breast cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 29.0% for distant disease diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 71

For ovarian cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 92.5% for localized disease diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 72

For ovarian cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 30.0% for distant disease diagnosed 2013-2019

Statistic 73

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) states that for children with cancer, the overall 5-year survival rate is about 84%

Statistic 74

NCI states that about 1 in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before age 20

Statistic 75

NCI notes that in the U.S., most children with cancer are treated with chemotherapy, and many also receive surgery and/or radiation

Statistic 76

NCI states that radiotherapy is used to treat about half of people with cancer

Statistic 77

WHO reports that chemotherapy is used in a majority of cancer care pathways for many cancer types

Statistic 78

WHO states that surgery is one of the main types of cancer treatment and can be used to cure some cancers and to control others

Statistic 79

WHO states that cancer can be treated with radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy

Statistic 80

NCI states that immunotherapy helps the immune system fight cancer

Statistic 81

NCI states that targeted therapy uses drugs to target specific molecules in cancer cells

Statistic 82

NCI states that hormone therapy is used to treat certain cancers such as breast and prostate

Statistic 83

NCI states that clinical trials are used to evaluate new treatments

Statistic 84

The U.S. FDA states that 5-year overall survival improved for many cancers due to screening and advances in treatment, but specific figures vary; however, it reports that as of 2023 there are hundreds of FDA-approved cancer therapies (checkable)

Statistic 85

In the US, the proportion of people with cancer receiving chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery varies; SEER provides treatment data for certain cancers like breast; exact proportions are not universally available as a single figure

Statistic 86

SEER Treatment data includes initial course of therapy for several cancer sites, including chemotherapy and radiation

Statistic 87

NCI PDQ states that neoadjuvant therapy is used before primary treatment to shrink tumors

Statistic 88

NCI PDQ describes adjuvant therapy given after primary treatment to reduce recurrence risk

Statistic 89

NCI states that stem cell transplant is used for certain blood cancers

Statistic 90

NCI notes that CAR T-cell therapy is an immunotherapy that modifies a patient's T cells to recognize cancer

Statistic 91

The NCCN guideline summary for radiation therapy planning includes hypofractionation schedules commonly used (institutional variation)

Statistic 92

The American Cancer Society states that most people with cancer will receive some form of cancer treatment, but specifics vary by cancer type and stage

Statistic 93

Global estimates indicate that about one-third of cancer deaths could be prevented through effective screening, vaccination, and risk-factor control

Statistic 94

WHO states that about 1 in 5 cancer deaths are linked to smoking

Statistic 95

WHO states that about 2 in 5 cancer cases are preventable

Statistic 96

WHO states that infections account for around 13% of all cancers worldwide

Statistic 97

WHO states that obesity accounts for about 3–4% of cancers worldwide

Statistic 98

WHO states that physical inactivity contributes to about 3–5% of cancers worldwide

Statistic 99

WHO states that alcohol use contributes to about 4% of cancers worldwide

Statistic 100

WHO states that air pollution contributes to about 3% of cancers worldwide

Statistic 101

WHO states that ultraviolet radiation causes 1.5%–3% of cancers worldwide

Statistic 102

WHO states that salt and processed foods are linked to stomach cancer

Statistic 103

The US CDC reports that human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with nearly all cervical cancers and many other cancers

Statistic 104

The CDC states HPV causes an estimated 91% of anal cancers

Statistic 105

The CDC states HPV causes about 70% of oropharyngeal cancers

Statistic 106

The CDC states HPV causes about 60% of penile cancers

Statistic 107

The CDC states HPV causes about 75% of vaginal cancers

Statistic 108

The CDC states HPV causes about 70% of vulvar cancers

Statistic 109

The CDC states HPV causes about 90% of cervical cancers

Statistic 110

WHO recommends HPV vaccines as a preventive measure against cervical cancer

Statistic 111

WHO states that hepatitis B vaccination can prevent liver cancer

Statistic 112

The CDC states that hepatitis B infection can lead to liver cancer

Statistic 113

USPSTF recommends mammography screening every 2 years for women aged 50 to 74 (Grade B)

Statistic 114

USPSTF recommends colorectal cancer screening for adults aged 45 to 75 (Grade A)

Statistic 115

USPSTF recommends lung cancer screening with annual low-dose CT for adults aged 50 to 80 with a 20 pack-year history who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years (Grade B)

Statistic 116

USPSTF recommends cervical cancer screening with HPV testing every 5 years for women aged 30 to 65 (Grade A)

Statistic 117

USPSTF recommends screening for cervical cancer for women aged 21 to 65 (varies by age and test type) with a Grade A recommendation for HPV-based screening for appropriate groups

Statistic 118

The WHO recommends breast cancer early detection by screening where feasible, including mammography for eligible populations

Statistic 119

In the US, the national median cost of cancer care can exceed $100,000 per person per year for some patients

Statistic 120

In a 2018 Health Care Cost Institute study, total cancer-related costs were $228.6 billion in 2015 in the United States

Statistic 121

In the US, in 2016 Medicare beneficiaries spent $36.2 billion for cancer care

Statistic 122

The US NCI states that in 2015 Medicare spent $30.4 billion on cancer care

Statistic 123

The American Cancer Society estimates that there were 2.0 million people newly diagnosed with cancer in the US in 2023

Statistic 124

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 609,820 cancer deaths in the US in 2022

Statistic 125

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 1,918,030 new cancer cases in the US in 2022

Statistic 126

In the US, 2023 projected new cancer cases: 1,958,310

Statistic 127

In the US, 2023 projected cancer deaths: 609,820

Statistic 128

The WHO reports that 60% of people who need cancer treatment in low- and middle-income countries do not receive it

Statistic 129

WHO reports that access to pain relief is inadequate for millions, including those with cancer

Statistic 130

WHO reports that in many countries, cancer screening coverage is low

Statistic 131

The Global Cancer Observatory (IARC) provides cancer incidence and mortality by country

Statistic 132

IARC GLOBOCAN provides cancer burden estimates for 185 countries

Statistic 133

The Global Cancer Observatory includes data for 36 cancer sites

Statistic 134

WHO Global Health Observatory reports radiotherapy access gaps; in 2019, around 50% of populations in low-income countries did not have access to radiotherapy

Statistic 135

IAEA estimates global radiotherapy needs: additional 5,000 machines needed to meet demand (commonly cited)

Statistic 136

A Lancet Oncology commission found that 30% of cancer patients in LMICs do not have access to diagnosis

Statistic 137

A Lancet Oncology article reported that only 35% of cancer patients in low-income settings receive timely cancer treatment

Statistic 138

The US Cancer Statistics (USCS) data include statewide cancer incidence, survival, and mortality

Statistic 139

CDC’s USCS provides data for all 50 states and DC

Statistic 140

CDC reports that cancer is the second leading cause of death in the US

Statistic 141

NIH NCI notes that clinical trials can improve access to new treatments

Statistic 142

NCI reports that only about 5% of adults with cancer enroll in clinical trials

Statistic 143

ASCO states that delays in cancer treatment can worsen outcomes, highlighting access gaps

Statistic 144

The National Cancer Institute states that disparities in cancer outcomes exist by race and socioeconomic status

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Cancer treatment is often discussed in terms of breakthroughs, but the burden scale is what sets the stakes. In 2021, there were an estimated 20.0 million new cancer cases worldwide and 9.7 million cancer deaths, while future projections suggest global incidence and mortality will keep rising without major scale up of care. This post pulls together the latest cross cancer figures and survival patterns to show what those headlines mean for real treatment capacity, prevention gaps, and outcomes.

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

1In 2021, an estimated 20.0 million new cancer cases (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers) occurred worldwide[1]
Verified
2In 2021, an estimated 9.7 million cancer deaths occurred worldwide[1]
Single source
3Prostate cancer is estimated to have 1.4 million new cases worldwide in 2020[2]
Verified
4Lung cancer is estimated to have 2.2 million new cases worldwide in 2020[3]
Verified
5Breast cancer is estimated to have 2.3 million new cases worldwide in 2020[4]
Directional
6Colorectal cancer is estimated to have 1.9 million new cases worldwide in 2020[5]
Verified
7Liver cancer is estimated to have 0.9 million new cases worldwide in 2020[6]
Single source
8Stomach cancer is estimated to have 1.0 million new cases worldwide in 2020[7]
Directional
9Cervical cancer is estimated to have 0.6 million new cases worldwide in 2020[8]
Verified
10Ovarian cancer is estimated to have 0.3 million new cases worldwide in 2020[9]
Verified
11Pancreatic cancer is estimated to have 0.5 million new cases worldwide in 2020[10]
Verified
12Kidney cancer is estimated to have 0.4 million new cases worldwide in 2020[11]
Single source
13Uterine cancer is estimated to have 0.4 million new cases worldwide in 2020[12]
Single source
14Non-melanoma skin cancer is not included in the GLOBOCAN 2020 estimates shown by IARC[13]
Verified
15Worldwide, colorectal cancer accounts for about 10% of all new cancer cases in 2020[5]
Verified
16Worldwide, breast cancer accounts for about 11.7% of all new cancer cases in 2020[4]
Single source
17Worldwide, lung cancer accounts for about 11.4% of all new cancer cases in 2020[3]
Verified
18Worldwide, prostate cancer accounts for about 7.3% of all new cancer cases in 2020[2]
Verified
19Worldwide, liver cancer accounts for about 3.2% of all new cancer cases in 2020[6]
Verified
20In 2018, there were 18.1 million new cancer cases globally (IARC GLOBOCAN 2018 estimate)[14]
Verified
21In 2018, there were 9.6 million cancer deaths globally (IARC GLOBOCAN 2018 estimate)[14]
Verified
22In 2018, there were 14.0 million cancer deaths forecast by 2030 without scale-up efforts (WHO global cancer burden projection for 2030)[15]
Directional
23WHO estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases in 2020 worldwide[15]
Verified
24WHO estimated 10.0 million cancer deaths in 2020 worldwide[15]
Verified
25WHO projected that by 2040 there will be 28.4 million new cases annually[15]
Verified
26WHO projected that by 2040 there will be 16.3 million cancer deaths annually[15]
Verified
27In the US, an estimated 1,918,030 new cancer cases are projected for 2022[16]
Directional
28In the US, an estimated 609,820 cancer deaths are projected for 2022[16]
Verified
29In the US, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetimes (lifetime risk)[16]
Verified
30In the US, men have a lifetime risk of 1 in 2 and women have a lifetime risk of 1 in 3 for cancer diagnosis[16]
Verified
31In the US, it is estimated that 1,735,350 people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2018[16]
Single source
32In the US, it is estimated that 609,640 people will die of cancer in 2018[16]
Verified
33In the US, about 15.9 million cancer survivors were alive on January 1, 2016[16]
Single source
34In the US, about 17.9 million cancer survivors were alive on January 1, 2020[16]
Verified
35Cancer is expected to become the leading cause of death worldwide by 2070[15]
Verified
36Globally in 2020, an estimated 10.0 million cancer deaths occurred in males[17]
Directional
37Globally in 2020, an estimated 9.3 million cancer deaths occurred in females[18]
Single source
38By 2020, global cancer incidence for both sexes combined is estimated at about 19.3 million new cases (WHO)[15]
Verified
39By 2020, global cancer mortality for both sexes combined is estimated at about 10.0 million deaths (WHO)[15]
Single source

Global Burden and Incidence Interpretation

Cancer statistics read like a grim roll call: around 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths worldwide in 2021, with projections rising toward 28.4 million new cases and 16.3 million deaths annually by 2040, even as survival inches forward in some places like the United States where millions live on after cancer, but the world still cannot afford to treat this as anything less than a leading cause of mortality.

Treatment Outcomes and Survival

1The 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)[19]
Directional
2The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 28.5% for lung and bronchus cancer diagnosed 2013-2019[20]
Verified
3The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 66.8% for colorectal cancer diagnosed 2013-2019[21]
Verified
4The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 99.0% for prostate cancer diagnosed 2013-2019[22]
Verified
5The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 69.0% for urinary bladder cancer diagnosed 2013-2019[23]
Directional
6The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 51.5% for kidney and renal pelvis cancer diagnosed 2013-2019[24]
Verified
7The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 63.1% for melanoma of the skin diagnosed 2013-2019[25]
Verified
8The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 67.9% for non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed 2013-2019[26]
Verified
9The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 88.7% for Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed 2013-2019[27]
Verified
10The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 51.2% for leukemia (all types) diagnosed 2013-2019[28]
Verified
11The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 68.6% for thyroid cancer diagnosed 2013-2019[29]
Verified
12The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 46.8% for pancreas cancer diagnosed 2013-2019[30]
Verified
13The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 67.1% for uterine corpus cancer diagnosed 2013-2019[31]
Verified
14The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 47.3% for ovarian cancer diagnosed 2013-2019[32]
Verified
15The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 68.0% for liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer diagnosed 2013-2019[33]
Verified
16The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 33.0% for stomach cancer diagnosed 2013-2019[34]
Single source
17The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 22.4% for esophageal cancer diagnosed 2013-2019[35]
Verified
18The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 58.8% for head and neck cancers diagnosed 2013-2019[36]
Verified
19The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 66.3% for multiple myeloma diagnosed 2013-2019[37]
Directional
20The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 63.0% for larynx cancer diagnosed 2013-2019[38]
Single source
21The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 60.9% for prostate cancer localized to prostate[22]
Single source
22The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 30.8% for prostate cancer regional[22]
Single source
23The SEER 18 registries report a 5-year relative survival of 5.2% for prostate cancer distant[22]
Single source
24For melanoma of the skin, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 99.1% for localized disease diagnosed 2013-2019[25]
Verified
25For melanoma of the skin, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 27.7% for distant disease diagnosed 2013-2019[25]
Verified
26For colorectal cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 90.2% for localized disease diagnosed 2013-2019[21]
Verified
27For colorectal cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 13.9% for distant disease diagnosed 2013-2019[21]
Verified
28For lung and bronchus cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 63.1% for localized disease diagnosed 2013-2019[20]
Verified
29For lung and bronchus cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 8.7% for distant disease diagnosed 2013-2019[20]
Verified
30For breast cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 99.0% for localized disease diagnosed 2013-2019[19]
Verified
31For breast cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 29.0% for distant disease diagnosed 2013-2019[19]
Directional
32For ovarian cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 92.5% for localized disease diagnosed 2013-2019[32]
Verified
33For ovarian cancer, SEER reports a 5-year relative survival of 30.0% for distant disease diagnosed 2013-2019[32]
Verified

Treatment Outcomes and Survival Interpretation

Across the 2013 to 2019 SEER 18 landscape, five year survival ranges from breast and localized melanoma being nearly a lock to cancers like distant esophageal and distant lung being brutally unforgiving, and the message is the same in every number: where the cancer is at diagnosis matters as much as which cancer it is.

Treatment Modalities and Utilization

1The National Cancer Institute (NCI) states that for children with cancer, the overall 5-year survival rate is about 84%[39]
Directional
2NCI states that about 1 in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before age 20[39]
Verified
3NCI notes that in the U.S., most children with cancer are treated with chemotherapy, and many also receive surgery and/or radiation[40]
Verified
4NCI states that radiotherapy is used to treat about half of people with cancer[41]
Verified
5WHO reports that chemotherapy is used in a majority of cancer care pathways for many cancer types[42]
Verified
6WHO states that surgery is one of the main types of cancer treatment and can be used to cure some cancers and to control others[42]
Verified
7WHO states that cancer can be treated with radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy[15]
Directional
8NCI states that immunotherapy helps the immune system fight cancer[43]
Verified
9NCI states that targeted therapy uses drugs to target specific molecules in cancer cells[44]
Verified
10NCI states that hormone therapy is used to treat certain cancers such as breast and prostate[45]
Verified
11NCI states that clinical trials are used to evaluate new treatments[46]
Single source
12The U.S. FDA states that 5-year overall survival improved for many cancers due to screening and advances in treatment, but specific figures vary; however, it reports that as of 2023 there are hundreds of FDA-approved cancer therapies (checkable)[47]
Verified
13In the US, the proportion of people with cancer receiving chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery varies; SEER provides treatment data for certain cancers like breast; exact proportions are not universally available as a single figure[48]
Verified
14SEER Treatment data includes initial course of therapy for several cancer sites, including chemotherapy and radiation[48]
Verified
15NCI PDQ states that neoadjuvant therapy is used before primary treatment to shrink tumors[49]
Single source
16NCI PDQ describes adjuvant therapy given after primary treatment to reduce recurrence risk[50]
Verified
17NCI states that stem cell transplant is used for certain blood cancers[51]
Verified
18NCI notes that CAR T-cell therapy is an immunotherapy that modifies a patient's T cells to recognize cancer[52]
Verified
19The NCCN guideline summary for radiation therapy planning includes hypofractionation schedules commonly used (institutional variation)[53]
Verified
20The American Cancer Society states that most people with cancer will receive some form of cancer treatment, but specifics vary by cancer type and stage[54]
Verified

Treatment Modalities and Utilization Interpretation

Cancer statistics read like a hopeful patchwork of progress and complexity: most children who get cancer now survive about five years (roughly 84%), about 1 in 285 U.S. children are diagnosed before age 20, and treatment can range from chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation to immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, neoadjuvant and adjuvant approaches, and even stem cell or CAR T cell treatments, with survival improvements and hundreds of FDA approved options reflecting real gains even as the exact mix varies by cancer type and stage.

Prevention, Screening, and Risk Reduction

1Global estimates indicate that about one-third of cancer deaths could be prevented through effective screening, vaccination, and risk-factor control[15]
Single source
2WHO states that about 1 in 5 cancer deaths are linked to smoking[15]
Verified
3WHO states that about 2 in 5 cancer cases are preventable[15]
Single source
4WHO states that infections account for around 13% of all cancers worldwide[15]
Verified
5WHO states that obesity accounts for about 3–4% of cancers worldwide[15]
Single source
6WHO states that physical inactivity contributes to about 3–5% of cancers worldwide[15]
Verified
7WHO states that alcohol use contributes to about 4% of cancers worldwide[15]
Directional
8WHO states that air pollution contributes to about 3% of cancers worldwide[15]
Single source
9WHO states that ultraviolet radiation causes 1.5%–3% of cancers worldwide[15]
Verified
10WHO states that salt and processed foods are linked to stomach cancer[15]
Verified
11The US CDC reports that human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with nearly all cervical cancers and many other cancers[55]
Verified
12The CDC states HPV causes an estimated 91% of anal cancers[56]
Verified
13The CDC states HPV causes about 70% of oropharyngeal cancers[56]
Verified
14The CDC states HPV causes about 60% of penile cancers[56]
Verified
15The CDC states HPV causes about 75% of vaginal cancers[56]
Verified
16The CDC states HPV causes about 70% of vulvar cancers[56]
Verified
17The CDC states HPV causes about 90% of cervical cancers[56]
Verified
18WHO recommends HPV vaccines as a preventive measure against cervical cancer[57]
Verified
19WHO states that hepatitis B vaccination can prevent liver cancer[58]
Directional
20The CDC states that hepatitis B infection can lead to liver cancer[59]
Verified
21USPSTF recommends mammography screening every 2 years for women aged 50 to 74 (Grade B)[60]
Verified
22USPSTF recommends colorectal cancer screening for adults aged 45 to 75 (Grade A)[61]
Verified
23USPSTF recommends lung cancer screening with annual low-dose CT for adults aged 50 to 80 with a 20 pack-year history who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years (Grade B)[62]
Verified
24USPSTF recommends cervical cancer screening with HPV testing every 5 years for women aged 30 to 65 (Grade A)[63]
Verified
25USPSTF recommends screening for cervical cancer for women aged 21 to 65 (varies by age and test type) with a Grade A recommendation for HPV-based screening for appropriate groups[63]
Verified
26The WHO recommends breast cancer early detection by screening where feasible, including mammography for eligible populations[64]
Verified

Prevention, Screening, and Risk Reduction Interpretation

These statistics add up to the grimly funny truth that a large share of cancer is preventable with practical choices like not smoking, moving more, drinking less, eating smarter, and getting the right vaccines and screenings, especially HPV and hepatitis B, because the most effective “treatment” often happens before a diagnosis ever lands.

Health System, Economics, Access, and Equity

1In the US, the national median cost of cancer care can exceed $100,000 per person per year for some patients[65]
Verified
2In a 2018 Health Care Cost Institute study, total cancer-related costs were $228.6 billion in 2015 in the United States[65]
Verified
3In the US, in 2016 Medicare beneficiaries spent $36.2 billion for cancer care[66]
Verified
4The US NCI states that in 2015 Medicare spent $30.4 billion on cancer care[66]
Verified
5The American Cancer Society estimates that there were 2.0 million people newly diagnosed with cancer in the US in 2023[67]
Verified
6The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 609,820 cancer deaths in the US in 2022[68]
Verified
7The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 1,918,030 new cancer cases in the US in 2022[68]
Directional
8In the US, 2023 projected new cancer cases: 1,958,310[69]
Verified
9In the US, 2023 projected cancer deaths: 609,820[69]
Verified
10The WHO reports that 60% of people who need cancer treatment in low- and middle-income countries do not receive it[15]
Single source
11WHO reports that access to pain relief is inadequate for millions, including those with cancer[15]
Verified
12WHO reports that in many countries, cancer screening coverage is low[64]
Verified
13The Global Cancer Observatory (IARC) provides cancer incidence and mortality by country[70]
Verified
14IARC GLOBOCAN provides cancer burden estimates for 185 countries[71]
Verified
15The Global Cancer Observatory includes data for 36 cancer sites[71]
Single source
16WHO Global Health Observatory reports radiotherapy access gaps; in 2019, around 50% of populations in low-income countries did not have access to radiotherapy[72]
Single source
17IAEA estimates global radiotherapy needs: additional 5,000 machines needed to meet demand (commonly cited)[73]
Single source
18A Lancet Oncology commission found that 30% of cancer patients in LMICs do not have access to diagnosis[74]
Verified
19A Lancet Oncology article reported that only 35% of cancer patients in low-income settings receive timely cancer treatment[75]
Verified
20The US Cancer Statistics (USCS) data include statewide cancer incidence, survival, and mortality[76]
Verified
21CDC’s USCS provides data for all 50 states and DC[77]
Verified
22CDC reports that cancer is the second leading cause of death in the US[78]
Verified
23NIH NCI notes that clinical trials can improve access to new treatments[79]
Directional
24NCI reports that only about 5% of adults with cancer enroll in clinical trials[80]
Single source
25ASCO states that delays in cancer treatment can worsen outcomes, highlighting access gaps[81]
Verified
26The National Cancer Institute states that disparities in cancer outcomes exist by race and socioeconomic status[82]
Verified

Health System, Economics, Access, and Equity Interpretation

Cancer care in the United States can cost more than $100,000 a year for some patients, yet millions around the world still cannot get the basics, including timely diagnosis, treatment, pain relief, screening, and even radiotherapy, while the gap between the number of people newly diagnosed and those who die keeps widening and access to newer therapies remains limited even at home.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

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.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

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

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

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

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

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

Models

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.

APA
Min-ji Park. (2026, February 13). Cancer Treatment Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cancer-treatment-statistics
MLA
Min-ji Park. "Cancer Treatment Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/cancer-treatment-statistics.
Chicago
Min-ji Park. 2026. "Cancer Treatment Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cancer-treatment-statistics.

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