While nearly two million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year, a closer look at the numbers reveals a complex tapestry of progress, persistent challenges, and powerful insights that are shaping our fight against this disease.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, an estimated 1,958,310 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the United States.
- The age-adjusted incidence rate for all cancers combined in the US was 442.0 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2016–2020 rates.
- Breast cancer incidence rate among US women was 128.3 per 100,000 from 2016-2020.
- The age-adjusted cancer mortality rate in the US was 145.4 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2017–2021 deaths.
- Lung and bronchus cancer mortality rate was 34.5 per 100,000 overall from 2017-2021.
- Breast cancer mortality rate among women was 19.3 per 100,000 from 2017-2021.
- The 5-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined diagnosed 2013-2019 was 68.7%.
- Breast cancer 5-year relative survival rate was 91.1% for 2013-2019 diagnoses.
- Prostate cancer 5-year survival rate was 97.1% from 2013-2019.
- Smoking causes about 80-90% of lung cancer deaths in the US.
- Obesity is linked to 4-8% of all cancer cases in the US, about 40,000-50,000 cases yearly.
- Approximately 19% of all cancers in the US are attributable to alcohol consumption.
- Mammograms detect 80-90% of breast cancers in women without symptoms.
- Colorectal cancer screening reduces mortality by 30-50%.
- Pap tests reduce cervical cancer incidence by 80% when regular.
Cancer remains a leading health issue, but survival rates continue to improve significantly.
Incidence
- In 2023, an estimated 1,958,310 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the United States.
- The age-adjusted incidence rate for all cancers combined in the US was 442.0 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2016–2020 rates.
- Breast cancer incidence rate among US women was 128.3 per 100,000 from 2016-2020.
- Prostate cancer had an incidence rate of 270.9 per 100,000 men from 2016-2020.
- Lung and bronchus cancer incidence was 80.7 per 100,000 overall in 2016-2020.
- Colorectal cancer incidence rate was 36.4 per 100,000 from 2016-2020.
- Melanoma of the skin incidence rate was 21.2 per 100,000 in 2016-2020.
- Bladder cancer incidence was 17.6 per 100,000 from 2016-2020.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma incidence rate was 18.6 per 100,000 in 2016-2020.
- Kidney and renal pelvis cancer incidence was 16.4 per 100,000 from 2016-2020.
- Uterine corpus cancer incidence rate was 28.5 per 100,000 women in 2016-2020.
- Leukemia incidence was 14.0 per 100,000 from 2016-2020.
- Pancreatic cancer incidence rate was 12.5 per 100,000 in 2016-2020.
- Thyroid cancer incidence was 13.5 per 100,000 from 2016-2020.
- Liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer incidence rate was 9.2 per 100,000 in 2016-2020.
- Oral cavity and pharynx cancer incidence was 10.5 per 100,000 from 2016-2020.
- Cervical cancer incidence rate was 7.4 per 100,000 women in 2016-2020.
- Ovarian cancer incidence was 10.6 per 100,000 women from 2016-2020.
- Brain and other nervous system cancer incidence rate was 6.9 per 100,000 in 2016-2020.
- Esophageal cancer incidence was 4.2 per 100,000 from 2016-2020.
- Stomach cancer incidence rate was 5.7 per 100,000 in 2016-2020.
- Multiple myeloma incidence was 7.1 per 100,000 from 2016-2020.
- In 2020, there were 1,806,590 new cancer cases estimated in the US.
- Cancer incidence rates decreased by 0.8% per year on average from 2015-2019 among males.
- Among females, cancer incidence rates decreased by 0.4% per year from 2015-2019.
- In 2019, the most common cancers diagnosed were breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal.
- Endometrial cancer incidence has been increasing by 0.6% annually since 2007.
- HPV-associated cancer incidence was 35.2 per 100,000 in 2015-2019.
- Mesothelioma incidence rate was 0.7 per 100,000 from 2016-2020.
- Testicular cancer incidence was 5.9 per 100,000 men in 2016-2020.
Incidence Interpretation
While progress against cancer is steady and heartening, the nearly two million new diagnoses each year serve as a sobering reminder that our bodies can, with unsettling creativity, find far too many ways to declare a mutiny.
Mortality
- The age-adjusted cancer mortality rate in the US was 145.4 per 100,000 men and women per year based on 2017–2021 deaths.
- Lung and bronchus cancer mortality rate was 34.5 per 100,000 overall from 2017-2021.
- Breast cancer mortality rate among women was 19.3 per 100,000 from 2017-2021.
- Prostate cancer mortality was 18.4 per 100,000 men in 2017-2021.
- Colorectal cancer mortality rate was 13.1 per 100,000 from 2017-2021.
- Pancreatic cancer mortality was 10.9 per 100,000 in 2017-2021.
- Liver and bile duct cancer mortality rate was 6.5 per 100,000 from 2017-2021.
- Uterine corpus cancer mortality was 6.5 per 100,000 women in 2017-2021.
- Leukemia mortality rate was 6.6 per 100,000 from 2017-2021.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma mortality was 4.8 per 100,000 in 2017-2021.
- Brain and nervous system cancer mortality rate was 4.5 per 100,000 from 2017-2021.
- Esophageal cancer mortality was 4.0 per 100,000 in 2017-2021.
- Bladder cancer mortality rate was 3.7 per 100,000 from 2017-2021.
- Kidney and renal pelvis cancer mortality was 3.6 per 100,000 in 2017-2021.
- Ovarian cancer mortality rate was 9.7 per 100,000 women from 2017-2021.
- Stomach cancer mortality was 2.6 per 100,000 in 2017-2021.
- Multiple myeloma mortality rate was 3.3 per 100,000 from 2017-2021.
- Oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality was 2.5 per 100,000 in 2017-2021.
- Cervical cancer mortality rate was 2.2 per 100,000 women from 2017-2021.
- Melanoma mortality was 1.7 per 100,000 in 2017-2021.
- Thyroid cancer mortality rate was 0.5 per 100,000 from 2017-2021.
- In 2021, 609,820 cancer deaths occurred in the US.
- Cancer death rates have fallen 33% since 1991, from 215 to 146 per 100,000 population.
- Lung cancer death rates declined 36% for men and 21% for women from 1991 to 2020.
- Colorectal cancer mortality decreased 1% per year from 2013-2022.
- Breast cancer death rates declined 44% from 1989 to 2020.
- Prostate cancer mortality fell 52% from 1993 to 2020.
- Pancreatic cancer mortality increased 0.3% annually from 2013-2022.
- Liver cancer mortality rates decreased 2.3% per year from 2013-2022.
- In 2023, lung cancer is expected to cause 124,580 deaths in the US.
- Breast cancer will cause about 42,170 deaths in 2023.
Mortality Interpretation
While we should celebrate a 33% drop in cancer deaths since 1991, the grim reality is that lung cancer still holds a disquieting and decisive lead in this morbid race, claiming nearly a quarter of all cancer lives.
Risk Factors
- Smoking causes about 80-90% of lung cancer deaths in the US.
- Obesity is linked to 4-8% of all cancer cases in the US, about 40,000-50,000 cases yearly.
- Approximately 19% of all cancers in the US are attributable to alcohol consumption.
- HPV infection causes nearly all cervical cancers and 70% of oropharyngeal cancers.
- About 42,000 HPV-associated cancers occur annually in the US.
- Tobacco use is responsible for 30% of all cancer deaths in the US.
- UV radiation exposure causes 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers and 65% of melanomas.
- Family history increases breast cancer risk by 2-3 times for those with BRCA1/2 mutations.
- Physical inactivity contributes to 2-5% of US cancer cases.
- Red and processed meat consumption raises colorectal cancer risk by 17% per 100g/day.
- About 5-10% of cancers are hereditary.
- Diabetes is associated with a 20-50% increased risk of liver, pancreas, and endometrial cancers.
- Secondhand smoke exposure causes over 7,300 lung cancer deaths annually in non-smokers.
- 13 HPV types cause cancer, with HPV-16 causing 70% of cervical cancers.
- Excessive sun exposure increases melanoma risk by 2-3 times for those with fair skin.
- Alcohol accounts for 5.6% of all cancers and 4.4% of cancer deaths in the US.
- Smoking cessation reduces lung cancer risk by 30-50% after 10 years.
- Obesity increases postmenopausal breast cancer risk by 20-40%.
- Asbestos exposure causes about 30,000 lung cancer and mesothelioma cases yearly historically.
- Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, causing 21,000 deaths yearly.
- 5% of breast cancers are linked to dense breasts.
- Poor diet contributes to 30-35% of colorectal cancer risk.
- Ionizing radiation from medical imaging contributes to 1-2% of cancers.
- Chronic hepatitis B/C infections cause 70-90% of liver cancers.
- 91 million Americans have pre-cancers from HPV.
Risk Factors Interpretation
Cancer may seem like a cruel and capricious lottery, but the sobering truth is we're holding many of the winning tickets ourselves, through choices like smoking, drinking, and overeating, while unwittingly accepting others from radon, HPV, and the sun.
Survival
- The 5-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined diagnosed 2013-2019 was 68.7%.
- Breast cancer 5-year relative survival rate was 91.1% for 2013-2019 diagnoses.
- Prostate cancer 5-year survival rate was 97.1% from 2013-2019.
- Melanoma of the skin 5-year survival was 94.5% for 2013-2019.
- Thyroid cancer 5-year relative survival rate was 98.4% in 2013-2019.
- Testicular cancer 5-year survival was 95.3% from 2013-2019.
- Hodgkin lymphoma 5-year survival rate was 89.2% for 2013-2019.
- Kidney cancer 5-year survival was 76.4% in 2013-2019.
- Uterine corpus cancer 5-year survival rate was 84.1% from 2013-2019.
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 5-year survival was 74.9% for 2013-2019.
- Colorectal cancer 5-year relative survival rate was 65.2% in 2013-2019.
- Bladder cancer 5-year survival was 78.0% from 2013-2019.
- Oral cavity and pharynx cancer 5-year survival rate was 68.5% for 2013-2019.
- Leukemia 5-year survival was 65.7% in 2013-2019.
- Cervical cancer 5-year relative survival rate was 66.7% from 2013-2019.
- Ovarian cancer 5-year survival was 49.1% for 2013-2019.
- Lung cancer 5-year survival rate was 26.7% in 2013-2019.
- Liver cancer 5-year survival was 21.2% from 2013-2019.
- Pancreatic cancer 5-year relative survival rate was 12.8% for 2013-2019.
- Brain cancer 5-year survival was 33.6% in 2013-2019.
- Survival for localized breast cancer is 99.3% at 5 years.
- Distant metastatic breast cancer 5-year survival is 31.9%.
- Prostate cancer localized stage 5-year survival is nearly 100%.
- Overall cancer survival improved from 49% in the mid-1970s to 68% in 2013-2019.
- Childhood cancer 5-year survival increased from 58% to 84% from 1975-1977 to 2013-2019.
- 5-year survival for distant lung cancer is 7.8%.
- Regional colorectal cancer 5-year survival is 91.0%.
- Approximately 18.1 million Americans are cancer survivors as of 2022.
- By 2040, the number of cancer survivors is projected to reach 26 million.
- 5-year survival for localized pancreatic cancer is 44.3%.
Survival Interpretation
While we've become remarkably adept at treating many cancers like a manageable nuisance, others remain devastatingly formidable, reminding us that the war on cancer is a series of brutal, individual battles with victories still desperately needed.
Treatment and Screening
- Mammograms detect 80-90% of breast cancers in women without symptoms.
- Colorectal cancer screening reduces mortality by 30-50%.
- Pap tests reduce cervical cancer incidence by 80% when regular.
- Low-dose CT lung screening reduces mortality by 20% in high-risk smokers.
- PSA testing detects 80% of prostate cancers early.
- In 2020, 64.3% of adults aged 50-75 were up-to-date with colorectal screening.
- Breast cancer screening mammography adherence was 65.7% in 2020.
- HPV vaccination prevents over 90% of HPV-related cancers.
- Surgery is the primary treatment for 50% of cancers.
- Chemotherapy is used in 40-50% of cancer patients.
- Radiation therapy is given to about 50% of all cancer patients.
- Immunotherapy benefits 20-30% of advanced cancer patients.
- Targeted therapy is effective in 25% of cancers with specific mutations.
- Clinical trials enroll about 3-5% of cancer patients annually.
- Fecal occult blood tests detect 92% of colorectal cancers.
- Colonoscopy screening prevents 60-80% of colorectal cancers.
- 3D mammography improves detection by 23% over 2D.
- Lung cancer screening participation is 5-10% among eligible high-risk individuals.
- BRCA testing identifies 5-10% of high-risk breast cancer families.
- Hormone therapy reduces breast cancer recurrence by 50% in ER+ cases.
- CAR-T cell therapy achieves 50-90% remission in certain blood cancers.
- Precision medicine matches treatments to 30% of patients with genomic profiling.
- Annual cervical screening with HPV test detects 95% of precancers.
- Prostate MRI improves biopsy accuracy by 30%.
- Stereotactic body radiation therapy offers 90% local control for early lung cancers.
Treatment and Screening Interpretation
While we have an impressive arsenal of weapons to detect and fight cancer—from screenings that dramatically slash mortality to cutting-edge therapies offering remarkable remissions—our biggest battle is often just getting people to consistently use them.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CANCERcancer.orgVisit source
- Reference 2SEERseer.cancer.govVisit source
- Reference 3CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 4CANCERcancer.govVisit source
- Reference 5GISgis.cdc.govVisit source
- Reference 6ACSJOURNALSacsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.comVisit source
- Reference 7SKINCANCERskincancer.orgVisit source
- Reference 8FDAfda.govVisit source
- Reference 9BREASTCANCERbreastcancer.orgVisit source