US Cancer Rates Show Signs of Improvement Amid Rising Incidence
Despite rising cancer rates among young people, a new report from the American Cancer Society offers a glimmer of hope in the fight against this devastating disease. For the first time, data shows that 70% of all cancer patients survived at least five years after diagnosis between 2015 and 2021, marking a significant improvement since the mid-1970s when only 49% were expected to survive.
The turnaround can be attributed to decades of research that has provided clinicians with more effective treatments, turning many cancers from a death sentence into chronic diseases. Researchers have seen particularly notable gains in survival rates for patients diagnosed with aggressive forms of cancer such as myeloma, liver cancer, and lung cancer.
While the report's findings offer reason for optimism, there are also stark reminders that cancer remains a leading cause of death in the US, claiming over 600,000 lives annually. The latest projections suggest more than 2 million new diagnoses this year and an estimated 4.8 million preventable deaths between 1991 and 2023.
One critical concern is that despite advances in treatment and early detection, marginalized groups continue to bear a disproportionate burden of cancer-related mortality. Native American populations face the highest risk of death from various types of cancer, underscoring the need for targeted interventions focused on addressing socio-economic disparities in access to quality healthcare.
The report also highlights the ongoing threat posed by rising cancer incidence rates across various cancer types, including breast, prostate, and liver cancers. This resurgence is compounded by government funding cuts under the Trump administration, which could undermine decades of progress made in reducing cancer mortality.
Ultimately, the survival gains Americans have seen are a testament to the power of investment in cancer research. However, policymakers must choose between sustaining these investments or undermining them, with far-reaching consequences for future breakthroughs and cancer control efforts.
Despite rising cancer rates among young people, a new report from the American Cancer Society offers a glimmer of hope in the fight against this devastating disease. For the first time, data shows that 70% of all cancer patients survived at least five years after diagnosis between 2015 and 2021, marking a significant improvement since the mid-1970s when only 49% were expected to survive.
The turnaround can be attributed to decades of research that has provided clinicians with more effective treatments, turning many cancers from a death sentence into chronic diseases. Researchers have seen particularly notable gains in survival rates for patients diagnosed with aggressive forms of cancer such as myeloma, liver cancer, and lung cancer.
While the report's findings offer reason for optimism, there are also stark reminders that cancer remains a leading cause of death in the US, claiming over 600,000 lives annually. The latest projections suggest more than 2 million new diagnoses this year and an estimated 4.8 million preventable deaths between 1991 and 2023.
One critical concern is that despite advances in treatment and early detection, marginalized groups continue to bear a disproportionate burden of cancer-related mortality. Native American populations face the highest risk of death from various types of cancer, underscoring the need for targeted interventions focused on addressing socio-economic disparities in access to quality healthcare.
The report also highlights the ongoing threat posed by rising cancer incidence rates across various cancer types, including breast, prostate, and liver cancers. This resurgence is compounded by government funding cuts under the Trump administration, which could undermine decades of progress made in reducing cancer mortality.
Ultimately, the survival gains Americans have seen are a testament to the power of investment in cancer research. However, policymakers must choose between sustaining these investments or undermining them, with far-reaching consequences for future breakthroughs and cancer control efforts.
Back in my day, we didn't even know what most cancers were like until it was too late... now they've got so many treatments it's like a miracle. But, at the same time, I'm worried about those marginalized groups getting left behind. It's just not right that they're bearing more of the burden due to systemic issues. 
And don't even get me started on funding cuts! How are we supposed to keep making progress if we cut back? It's like taking two steps forward and one step back, you know? 
I mean, 70% of people surviving cancer is actually super amazing! Like, the advancements in treatment have been huge, right? It's crazy to think that back in the mid-70s only 49% were expected to live past five years... 
But it's also kinda sad to see that there are still a lot of unnecessary deaths from cancer. And, tbh, it's pretty alarming that certain groups like Native Americans are bearing a bigger burden of cancer-related mortality. We need more targeted interventions to address those disparities, you know? 
It's all about investing in research and making sure everyone has access to quality healthcare... 
I'm feeling kinda hopeful about this new report on cancer rates 
. It's crazy how much progress we've made in treating the disease 
. But at the same time, it's also super concerning that more young people are getting diagnosed with cancer and it's still a leading cause of death in the US 
.
. And what really gets me is that some groups are still struggling way more than others 
. It's not right that Native American populations are bearing the brunt of cancer-related mortality. We need to do more to address those socio-economic disparities in healthcare.
. Either way, I'm just glad that more people are getting to live longer with cancer 
.
And I'm all for supporting those communities that are hit hardest by cancer, we can't just leave them behind. It's like, yeah progress is being made but let's not forget there's still a lot of work to be done! 
. But seriously, we gotta keep investing in cancer research so these advancements don't get cut back 
. Its also super concerning that marginalized groups are still bearing a disproportionate burden of cancer-related mortality 
Think about all those lives that've been turned around by advancements in medicine. But at the same time, it's still super sad to see how many people are dying from cancer every year 
. And what's up with the disparity between different groups? 
. I mean, back in the day, my aunt's cousin died from cancer like, what was it... 80? Yeah, that was a tough time. But now, at least they've got better meds and stuff. It's kinda wild how far we've come. Still, it's sad to see those numbers still being so high. I feel bad for all the people who are gonna lose their lives this year alone 
.
. If we don't keep investing in cancer research, I'm not sure we'll see any more progress. It's like, we're making strides, but then we're taking steps back. We gotta find a way to balance the books while still keeping the momentum going 
. We need to figure out how to make progress on this, not just keep throwing money at it and expecting different results 
... Government funding cuts under Trump were a major setback, and we're still dealing with the fallout from that... The good news is that there's hope for more effective treatments, but we can't lose sight of the fact that we need to be addressing these underlying issues if we want to make real progress 
we need 2 keep pushin 4 more research n better treatments ASAP 
My grandpa had lung cancer and went through chemo for ages. He's still kicking... sorta.
Don't they know about sunscreen and stuff? Got my own aunt who's been dealing with breast cancer and it's all so frustrating. She's not even 40 yet! 
I'm thinking we need more funding to keep researching and finding new treatments for all types of cancer. It's a good thing that some cancers are getting better, but the ones going up (like breast and prostate) really scare me 
. The report is showing us that we're not there yet, but I'm feeling hopeful 
.
5yr+ survivors have increased by 31% since 2010 
myeloma, liver & lung cancers saw a big turnaround too 
thats a huge improvement from like 1970s or something.