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Survival rates for cancer are the highest they've ever been, but concerns remain.
Summary
The American Cancer Society reports a 70% five-year survival rate for cancers diagnosed 2015–2021, while lung, colorectal and pancreatic cancers are expected to cause the most cancer deaths in 2026.
Content
The American Cancer Society released its annual report showing five-year survival for all cancers in the US reached 70% for people diagnosed from 2015 to 2021. That is the highest recorded survival rate in the report's series. The report highlights large gains for several previously fatal cancers, while also noting that some cancer types still cause many deaths. Leaders at the ACS emphasize research and earlier diagnosis as major contributors to the improvement.
Key facts:
- The ACS reports a 70% five-year survival rate for all cancers combined for people diagnosed 2015–2021.
- Five-year survival rose notably for myeloma (from 32% to 62%), for liver cancer (up 15 percentage points), and lung cancer survival was reported at 28%.
- The ACS projects more than 2 million new cancer diagnoses and about 626,000 deaths in 2026; lung, colorectal and pancreatic cancers are expected to cause the most deaths.
- ACS leaders say decades of research, earlier diagnoses and new treatments contributed to improved survival, and they warned that proposed federal funding cuts and changes to insurance access could threaten future progress.
Summary:
The report frames rising survival rates as the result of long-term research and treatment advances, while the burden of certain cancers remains high. Undetermined at this time.
