Cancer survival in the United States has reached its highest point in over five decades, marking a significant milestone in the long fight against the disease. New data reveals that at least 70% of American cancer patients now survive for five years or more following their diagnosis, a dramatic improvement from a mere 50% survival rate in the 1970s.
Historic Gains in Survival Rates
The encouraging figures, compiled by the American Cancer Society from research conducted between 2015 and 2021, underscore the profound impact of medical advancements. Rebecca Siegel, the society's Senior Scientific Director of Surveillance Research, hailed the development as a "stunning victory." She attributed the success to decades of dedicated research that has equipped clinicians with more effective tools, transforming numerous cancers from a terminal prognosis into a manageable chronic condition.
The most substantial improvements were noted in some of the most lethal forms of the disease. For patients with myeloma, a type of blood cancer, the five-year survival rate has surged from 32% in the mid-1990s to 62%. Similarly, liver cancer survival jumped from 7% to 22%, and lung cancer rates improved from 15% to 28% over the same period.
A Stark Warning on Research Funding
Despite this progress, experts have sounded a strong alarm about potential threats to future breakthroughs. They have specifically criticised decisions made during the Trump administration to slash billions in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which included vital budgets for cancer research.
Shane Jacobson, CEO of the American Cancer Society, emphasised the federal government's historic role as the primary funder of the research that has delivered these longer lives. "But now, threats to cancer research funding and significant impact to access to health insurance could reverse this progress and stall future breakthroughs," he cautioned. "We can't stop now. There is still much work to be done."
Rising Diagnoses Amidst Success
The report also presents a sobering counterpoint to the survival success story. The society projects 2,114,850 new cancer diagnoses and 626,140 cancer deaths for this year. While the overall cancer death rate has fallen by more than a third since 1991, diagnosis rates continue to climb for several cancers, including breast, pancreatic, colorectal, and liver cancers.
This rise is particularly pronounced among younger adults. Researchers point to a complex mix of potential causes, including better screening and detection, environmental pollution, increased obesity linked to ultra-processed foods, and rising alcohol consumption among women. However, they stress that more investigation is urgently needed to fully understand this troubling trend.
With more people living longer after a cancer diagnosis, the focus is increasingly shifting to survivorship. Dr. William Dahut, the society's Chief Scientific Officer, highlighted the need to address the ongoing physical, emotional, and financial challenges faced by patients. "We are encouraged by the number of resources to assist the millions of survivors... but more strategies will be necessary to ensure everyone has the support needed to have not only more days, but better days," he stated.
