Researchers at the American Cancer Society have reported a major milestone in cancer survival in the United States, reflecting decades of progress in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
According to Cancer Statistics, 2026, the five-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined has reached 70% for the first time. The estimate applies to people diagnosed between 2015 and 2021.
Seven in 10 people diagnosed with cancer in the United States now live at least five years or longer. In the mid-1970s, that figure was closer to half. Researchers say the change highlights how advances in cancer care have reshaped outcomes over time.
Deadliest cancers show the largest survival gains
Survival improvements have been greatest for cancers that once carried the poorest outlook. Five-year survival for multiple myeloma has nearly doubled since the mid-1990s, rising from 32% to 62%. Liver cancer survival increased from 7% to 22% during the same period. Lung cancer, long the leading cause of cancer death, also saw gains, with survival climbing from 15% to 28%.
Researchers link these improvements to the rise of targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and earlier diagnosis. Better supportive care has also helped patients tolerate treatment and live longer.
Screening and prevention contribute to progress
Expanded cancer screening programs and lower smoking rates have played a major role in improving outcomes, particularly for lung cancer.
Public health efforts aimed at tobacco control and early detection have helped reduce mortality, even as lung cancer remains widespread. Researchers say prevention continues to be one of the most effective tools in reducing cancer deaths.
New cases remain high despite falling death rates
The findings were published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, alongside the consumer-focused Cancer Facts & Figures 2026.
U.S. cancer survival has reached a milestone. New data from the American Cancer Society show that 70% of people diagnosed with cancer now live at least five years, up from about half in the 1970s. Death rates continue to fall, though disparities remain. pic.twitter.com/X3XMSM9cKm
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) January 14, 2026
Researchers project about 2.1 million new cancer diagnoses in the United States in 2026. That equals roughly 5,800 new cases each day. About 626,140 deaths from cancer are expected this year.
The overall cancer death rate has continued to decline through 2023. Since peaking in 1991, mortality has dropped by 34%. Researchers estimate that progress in prevention, early detection, and treatment has helped avert about 4.8 million cancer deaths.
Several common cancers continue to rise
Despite falling death rates, cancer incidence continues to increase for several major cancers.
New diagnoses are rising for breast and prostate cancer, which together account for a large share of cases. Rates are also increasing for liver cancer among women, melanoma among women, and cancers of the oral cavity, pancreas, and uterine corpus, also known as endometrial cancer.
Researchers say aging populations, obesity, infections, and gaps in screening all contribute to the trend.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death
Lung cancer is expected to cause more deaths in 2026 than colorectal and pancreatic cancers combined.
About three in four lung cancer patients are diagnosed after the disease has already spread. Survival has improved, but outcomes remain poor. Five-year survival for regional-stage lung cancer has risen from 20% in the mid-1990s to 37%. For distant-stage disease, survival increased from 2% to 10%.
Disparities persist across race and geography
The report also highlights deep disparities in cancer outcomes. Native American people continue to have the highest overall cancer mortality. Death rates are about twice those of White people for cancers of the kidney, liver, stomach, and uterine cervix. Researchers attribute these gaps to unequal access to prevention, early diagnosis, and high-quality treatment.
Growing focus on life after cancer
As survival improves, researchers say cancer care must extend beyond treatment. Millions of survivors now live with long-term physical effects, emotional strain, and financial stress linked to cancer. Researchers stress that continued investment in research, survivorship support, and equitable access to care will be critical to ensuring future gains improve not just survival, but quality of life.
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