A record 70 percent of Americans now survive at least five years after a cancer diagnosis, marking a dramatic improvement from the 50 percent survival rate of the mid-1970s, according to the American Cancer Society’s annual report released January 13.
At a Glance
- 70% five-year cancer survival rate, up from 50% in the 1970s
- Federal funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health threaten future progress
- Racial disparities persist: Native Americans face double the mortality risk for several cancers
- Why it matters: Advancements that turned many cancers into manageable conditions could stall without continued research investment
The milestone reflects decades of research that have transformed many cancers from fatal diagnoses into chronic conditions. Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director of surveillance research at the American Cancer Society, attributed the gains to improved treatments and earlier detection.
Survival Gains Across Cancer Types
Survival rates have improved across multiple cancer types, with some of the most significant increases in historically high-mortality cancers:
- Myeloma: rose from 32% to 62%
- Liver cancer: increased from 7% to 22%
- Lung cancer: improved from 15% to 28%
When broken down by stage at diagnosis, the five-year survival rate reaches 69% for regional-stage disease, up from 54% previously, and 35% for metastatic disease, compared to 17% in earlier decades.
The overall cancer mortality rate has declined consistently through 2023, preventing an estimated 4.8 million deaths since 1991. This progress stems largely from reduced smoking rates, earlier detection methods, and more effective treatments.
Funding Threats Endanger Future Progress
Despite these achievements, recent federal funding cuts pose a significant threat to continued advancement. The Trump administration’s November reduction of National Institutes of Health funding has halted research into cancer and other major diseases.
Shane Jacobson, CEO of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, warned that these cuts could reverse decades of progress.
“For decades, the federal government has been the largest funder of cancer research, which has translated to longer lives for people with even the most fatal cancers,” Jacobson said. “But now, threats to cancer research funding and significant impact to access to health insurance could reverse this progress and stall future breakthroughs.”
The federal government historically serves as the primary funder of cancer research, making these cuts particularly impactful for future developments in treatment and detection.
Persistent Racial Disparities
While overall survival rates have improved, significant racial disparities persist in cancer outcomes. Native Americans face mortality rates twice those of white Americans for several cancer types:
- Kidney cancer
- Liver cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Cervical cancer
Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president of surveillance, prevention, and health services research at the American Cancer Society and senior author of the report, identified systemic barriers as the root cause.
“Lack of access to high-quality cancer care and socioeconomics continues to play a significant role in persistent racial disparities,” Jemal said. “Efforts need to be focused on these areas so successful targeted cancer control interventions can be more broadly and equitably applied to all populations.”
Projected Cancer Burden for 2025
The American Cancer Society projects 2,114,850 new cancer diagnoses in 2025, with 626,140 deaths expected. Lung cancer remains the most fatal form of the disease, followed by colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer.
The organization emphasizes that while the 70% survival rate represents significant progress, continued investment in research and equitable access to care remain critical for further improvements.
Key Takeaways
The transformation of cancer from a death sentence to a manageable condition for 70% of patients represents one of medicine’s greatest achievements. However, this progress hangs in the balance as federal funding cuts threaten the research pipeline that made these advances possible. Combined with persistent racial disparities in cancer outcomes, the findings highlight both the remarkable progress made and the work that remains ahead.
