Overall Cancer Statistics

Special Topic: 21st Century Progress Against Lung Cancer

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Key Points

  • The Annual Report to the Nation provides recent trends in rates of new cancer cases (incidence) and death rates (mortality) in the United States.
  • Overall, cancer death rates decreased 1.6% per year (on average) among males and 1.1% per year (on average) among females.
  • Cancer death rates decreased an average of 1.0% per year among AYAs, and an average of 1.3% per year among children between 2004 and 2023.
  • The most common cancer types among children included leukemia, brain and other nervous system, and lymphoma.
  • This year's Special Section focused on 21st century progress against lung cancer.
  • Progress against lung cancer is mostly due to reductions in smoking as well as advances in screening and treatment. Researchers estimate 3.9 million lung cancer deaths were prevented between 1970 and 2022 in the US due to reductions in smoking.

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