ATLANTA — The five-year cancer survival rate has reached a record high of 70% in the United States. The American Cancer Society defines this statistic as the percentage of people still alive five years after their diagnosis.

The new milestone, reported Tuesday, is based on data collected between 2015 and 2021. It shows a major jump from a 50% survival rate in the 1970s and a 63% rate in the mid-1990s. According to the report, medical advancements helped prevent about 4.8 million cancer deaths between 1991 and 2023.

Researchers attribute these gains to medical breakthroughs. These include therapies that help the immune system fight cancer, drugs that target specific cancer cells, and more effective methods for early detection.

2026 Outlook and Mortality

Despite this progress, cancer is still the leading cause of death for Americans under age 85. For 2026, health officials project about 2.1 million new cancer cases and more than 624,000 deaths across the country. Lung cancer remains the most common cause of cancer death, followed by colon and pancreatic cancers.

Survival rates for specific types of cancer have improved dramatically. The five-year survival rate for myeloma, a type of blood cancer, has nearly doubled since the mid-1990s, rising from 32% to 62%. Additionally, survival rates for lung cancer that has spread to nearby areas increased from 20% to 37% during that same period.

Ongoing Gaps and Risks

The report highlights significant differences in how cancer affects people of different races and ethnicities. Death rates are highest among American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Furthermore, Black Americans face higher death rates for certain cancers, even when those cancers are found at the same rate as in other groups. Experts link these gaps to limited healthcare access and later-stage diagnoses.

New concerns are also emerging among younger age groups. Colon cancer cases are rising in adults under 50, with a more than 6% increase specifically among those aged 45 to 49.

Tobacco use remains the top risk factor for cancer, even though smoking rates have dropped from 44% in the 1960s to 11% today. However, obesity is now increasingly linked to rising rates of several cancers, including breast, pancreatic, and colon.

Screening and Financial Strain

There are currently about 18 million cancer survivors in the U.S., but many face long-term difficulties. Treatment causes severe financial strain and is a leading cause of bankruptcy. Up to 40% of patients reportedly spend their entire life savings on medical care.

The number of people getting routine check-ups also remains low. Fewer than 18% of people recommended for lung cancer screenings actually get them. Doctors worry that skipped check-ups during the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to more cancers being found at later, harder-to-treat stages.

Future progress may also slow down due to a 31% decrease in federal funding for cancer research during the first quarter of 2025. Researchers noted this drop could delay the development of new ways to prevent and detect the disease.