5-year cancer survival rate in the United States reaches a milestone mark of 70%, report says
SO MILESTONE HAS BEEN REACHED. WHEN IT COMES TO CANCER SURVIVAL RATES, IT’S ALL PART OF THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY’S MOST RECENT DATA. AND THIS MORNING WE’RE JOINED BY DOCTOR NATHALIE LOUIS WHO IS BREAKING DOWN THOSE NUMBERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. SO IF YOU COULD, LET’S EXPAND AND START ON THE MILESTONE. WHAT IS THE NEW DATA SAY? SO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE UNITED STATES, WE HAVE REACHED A BETTER SURVIVAL RATE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE CANCER. THE NUMBER OF CANCER DEATHS AT FIVE YEARS, SORRY, THE THE CANCER SURVIVAL AT FIVE YEARS HAS NOW REACHED 70%. A FEW DECADES AGO, IT WAS ONLY 50%. SO WE ARE REALLY MAKING A LOT OF ADVANCES IN OUR CANCER DETECTION AND TREATMENT. YEAH, THAT IS VERY SIGNIFICANT. IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR TYPE OF CANCER THAT MIGHT BE SEEING THE MOST IMPROVEMENT? IT REALLY IS IN THE ADVANCED OR LATER STAGE CANCERS THAT WE’RE SEEING THE MOST IMPROVEMENT. ONE EXAMPLE IS LUNG CANCER, WHICH CAUSES THE MOST NUMBER OF CANCER DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES. IT USED TO BE THAT PEOPLE WITH ADVANCED LUNG CANCER, ONLY 2% WOULD SURVIVE. BUT NOW, A FEW DECADES LATER, IT’S UP TO 10%. SO YOU CAN SEE THIS IS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT. BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LOT A LONG WAY TO GO. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO WHAT’S THE REALITY RIGHT NOW FOR CANCER CASES OVERALL IN THIS COUNTRY? IT’S STILL A BIG PROBLEM. ABOUT 2.1 MILLION PEOPLE WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IN THE UNITED STATES THIS YEAR. AND IT’S EXPECTED THAT OVER 600,000 PEOPLE WILL DIE FROM CANCER. SO IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE MADE OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES TO CONTINUE THIS IMPROVEMENT. SO IDENTIFYING THOSE SYMPTOMS, THEY CAN BE KEY. SO WHAT DO YOU ASK FOLKS TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR AS FAR AS EARLY DETECTION GOES? REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS SCREENING. SO MAKING SURE THAT YOU’RE GETTING CANCER SCREENING WHEN APPROPRIATE, LUNG CANCER SCREENING IF PEOPLE QUALIFY, IF THEY’VE BEEN HEAVY SMOKERS, MAMMOGRAPHIES, COLONOSCOPIES, AND THEN OF COURSE, LEADING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. SO NOT SMOKING, EATING A HEALTHY DIET AND EXERCISE. AGAIN, I KNOW THAT THERE’S PROBABLY A LOT OF FACTORS WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, IMPROVING THESE CANCER SURVIVAL RATES. BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REMAINING HURDLES? THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK THAT WE STILL HAVE A LOT TO DO IN TERMS OF IMPROVING OUR SCREENING RATES IN THE US, AS WELL AS A LOT OF RESEARCH TO DO TO ADVANCE CANCER THERAPY ONCE PEOPLE ARE DIAGNOSED. DOCTOR LOUIS, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BREAKING DOWN THE DATA
5-year cancer survival rate in the United States reaches a milestone mark of 70%, report says
Updated: 11:20 AM PST Jan 13, 2026
The American Cancer Society has released its annual report on cancer in America.According to the newly released data, the 5-year cancer survival rate in the United States has reached a milestone mark of 70%.The data also says that cancer deaths have declined 34% since their peak in 1991, averaging nearly 5 million deaths.Meanwhile, survival gains are especially notable for cancers once considered nearly untreatable, including lung, liver, and advanced-stage cases.The report says that for 3 in 4 people diagnosed with lung cancer, 5-year survival has increased from 20% in the mid-90s to 37% now.However, the group notes that lack of access to cancer care continues to hamper survival rates.This year, it projects that 626,000 people will die from cancer, with Native Americans having the highest mortality rates.In California, the organization estimates there will be more than 200,000 new cancer cases this year, and more than 61,000 deaths.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
The American Cancer Society has released its annual report on cancer in America.
According to the newly released data, the 5-year cancer survival rate in the United States has reached a milestone mark of 70%.
The data also says that cancer deaths have declined 34% since their peak in 1991, averaging nearly 5 million deaths.
Meanwhile, survival gains are especially notable for cancers once considered nearly untreatable, including lung, liver, and advanced-stage cases.
The report says that for 3 in 4 people diagnosed with lung cancer, 5-year survival has increased from 20% in the mid-90s to 37% now.
However, the group notes that lack of access to cancer care continues to hamper survival rates.
This year, it projects that 626,000 people will die from cancer, with Native Americans having the highest mortality rates.
In California, the organization estimates there will be more than 200,000 new cancer cases this year, and more than 61,000 deaths.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel