United States at a Glance
The American Cancer Society projected just over 2 million new cancer cases and about 618,000 cancer deaths in the United States in 2025. Figures are updated every January in ACS Cancer Facts & Figures.
- About 4 in 10 people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime
- The cancer death rate has fallen by about a third since 1991, averting millions of deaths
- More than 18 million Americans are cancer survivors
- Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death
Global Burden
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (GLOBOCAN 2022), there were about 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million cancer deaths worldwide. Lung, breast and colorectal cancers are the most commonly diagnosed.
Five-Year Relative Survival by Stage (U.S.)
Approximate NCI SEER figures — early detection dramatically changes outcomes.
| Cancer | Localized | Distant |
|---|---|---|
| Breast (female) | ~99% | ~32% |
| Colorectal | ~91% | ~13% |
| Lung | ~65% | ~9% |
| Prostate | >99% | ~37% |
| Melanoma | >99% | ~35% |
Sources
- American Cancer Society — Cancer Facts & Figures
- National Cancer Institute — SEER Cancer Stat Facts
- CDC — U.S. Cancer Statistics
- WHO / IARC — Global Cancer Observatory
Medically reviewed content for education only — not a substitute for advice from your oncology team.