US Cancer Death Rates Continue to Decline, Driven by Lung Cancer Progress
Cancer death rates fell for both men and women from 2019 to 2023, continuing a downward trend that has lasted more than 20 years, according to the 2026 Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, published in the journal Cancer
. This continued decline in cancer deaths is driven largely by accelerated progress against lung cancer.
Lung Cancer Progress and Ongoing Challenges
The report’s special focus centers on the evolution of lung cancer risk factors and associated outcomes throughout the first 25 years of the 21st century. Even with notable advancements, lung cancer continues to be the second most frequent malignancy in males and females alike, while remaining the principal cause of mortality from cancer within the United States. Investigators highlighted that, alongside continuous decreases in cigarette use and the promotion of smoke-free settings, maintaining forward momentum against lung cancer could rely heavily on availability to early screening, prompt diagnosis, and cutting-edge care.progress against lung cancer may depend on access to early cancer detection, timely diagnosis, and state-of-the-art treatment.
Trends in New Cancer Cases
The report also examines trends in new U.S. cancer cases from 2003 to 2022. Between 2018 and 2022, the total incidence rates of newly diagnosed cancer experienced small annual increases, which were fueled by rising diagnoses of female breast cancer and male prostate cancer. Breast and prostate cancer remain the most common cancers among women and men, respectively. Despite the increase in prostate cancer, the overall rate of new cancer cases among men remained stable.
Collaboration Behind the Report
Offering annual evaluations of American cancer statistics and trends, the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer additionally features a dedicated area of focus annually. Prepared through a partnership involving the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health component known as the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the American Cancer Society, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR), the publication represents a joint undertaking. Analyzing mortality figures from 2004 to 2023 alongside incidence patterns spanning 2003 to 2022, the current document draws upon registry information gathered by NAACCR with backing from the CDC and NCI, combined with death records provided by the National Center for Health Statistics of the CDC.