Overview
- National projections for 2026 estimate about 2,114,850 new cancer diagnoses and 626,140 deaths in the United States.
- Five-year survival has reached roughly 70% for cancers diagnosed from 2015 to 2021, with distant-stage survival doubling to 35% since the mid-1990s.
- Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death, projected to kill more people in 2026 than colorectal and pancreatic cancers combined.
- The report documents persistent disparities, with American Indian and Alaska Native people and Black men showing the highest incidence and mortality and Black patients experiencing lower survival for nearly every cancer type.
- Authors warn that proposed cuts to research funding and health insurance could hinder future gains and further restrict access to timely, high-quality care.