Statistics at a Glance

At a Glance

Breast, lung and bronchus, prostate, and colorectal cancers account for almost 50% of all new cancer cases in the United States. Lung and bronchus, colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancers are responsible for nearly 50% of all deaths.

New Cancer Cases, 2023
Breast 300,590 (15%)
Prostate 288,300 (15%)
Lung & Bronchus 238,340 (12%)
Colon and rectum 153,020 (8%)
Other 978,060 (50%)
Cancer Deaths, 2023
Lung & Bronchus 127,070 (21%)
Colon and rectum 52,550 (9%)
Pancreas 50,550 (8%)
Breast 43,700 (7%)
Other 335,950 (55%)

How Many People Are Diagnosed with Cancer Each Year?

In 2023, roughly 2.0 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States. An estimated 297,790 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, which makes it the most common cancer diagnosis. Prostate cancer is the leading cancer diagnosis among men and the second most common diagnosis overall with 288,300 expected cases. Lung and bronchus cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosis with an estimated 238,340 new cases.

The top 12 most common cancer sites, shown below, will account for more than three quarters of all new cancer cases. For more cancer sites, see How Do Cancer Rates Compare?

Male
Breast 2,800
Prostate 288,300
Lung & Bronchus 117,550
Colorectal 81,860
Melanoma of the Skin 58,120
Urinary Bladder 62,420
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 44,880
Kidney and Renal Pelvis 52,360
Uterus 0
Leukemia 35,670
Pancreas 33,130
Thyroid 12,540
Female
Breast 297,790
Prostate 0
Lung & Bronchus 120,790
Colorectal 71,160
Melanoma of the Skin 39,490
Urinary Bladder 19,870
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 35,670
Kidney and Renal Pelvis 29,440
Corpus & Uterus, NOS 66,200
Leukemia 23,940
Pancreas 30,920
Thyroid 31,180

Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2023, American Cancer Society (ACS), Atlanta, Georgia, 2023.

How Many People Die of Cancer Each Year?

In 2023, an estimated 609,820 people will die of cancer in the United States. Lung and bronchus cancer is responsible for the most deaths with 127,070 people expected to die from this disease. That is nearly three times the 52,550 deaths due to colorectal cancer, which is the second most common cause of cancer death. Pancreatic cancer is the third deadliest cancer, causing 50,550 deaths.

The eight deadliest cancer sites, shown below, will account for almost two-thirds of all expected cancer deaths. For more cancer sites, see How Do Cancer Rates Compare?

Male
Lung and bronchus 67,160
Colon and rectum 28,470
Pancreas 26,620
Breast 530
Prostate 34,700
Liver & Intrahepatic Bile Duct 19,000
Leukemia 13,900
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 11,780
Female
Lung and bronchus 59,910
Colon and rectum 24,080
Pancreas 23,930
Breast 43,170
Prostate 0
Liver & Intrahepatic Bile Duct 10,380
Leukemia 9,810
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 8,400

Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2023, American Cancer Society (ACS), Atlanta, Georgia, 2023.

New Cases, Deaths, and Survival

How Do Cancer Rates Compare?

For comparison purposes, new cases and deaths are generally expressed as a rate — the number per 100,000 in the total population. The rate of new cases is known as cancer incidence, and the death rate as mortality. Note that total population changes depending on what group you are looking at, so, for instance, the rate of new cases for females is the rate per 100,000 females in the U.S.

The table below gives the predicted number of new cases and deaths in 2023, the age-adjusted rate of new cases and deaths over the most recent five years of data, and the five-year relative survival rate, representing the percent surviving their cancer diagnosis 5-years after diagnosis.

You can sort on any column by clicking the header.

Site Estimated New Cases (2023) Rate of New Cases (2016–2020) Estimated Deaths (2023) Death Rate (2016–2020) Relative Survival (%) (2013–2019)
Anus 9,760 1.9 1,870 0.3 70.4
Bladder 82,290 18.2 16,710 4.2 77.9
Bone and Joint 3,970 1.0 2,140 0.5 68.9
Brain and Other Nervous System 24,810 6.2 18,990 4.4 33.8
Breast 300,590 67.7 43,700 10.8 90.7
Cervix Uteri 13,960 7.7 4,310 2.2 67.2
Colon and Rectum 153,020 36.6 52,550 13.1 65.0
Esophagus 21,560 4.2 16,120 3.8 21.7
Hodgkin Lymphoma 8,830 2.5 900 0.3 88.9
Kidney and Renal Pelvis 81,800 17.2 14,890 3.5 77.6
Larynx 12,380 2.7 3,820 0.9 61.6
Leukemia 59,610 14.0 23,710 6.0 66.7
Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct 41,210 9.3 29,380 6.6 21.6
Lung and Bronchus 238,340 50.0 127,070 35.0 25.4
Melanoma of the Skin 97,610 21.0 7,990 2.1 93.5
Myeloma 35,730 7.1 12,590 3.1 59.8
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 80,550 18.7 20,180 5.1 74.3
Oral Cavity and Pharynx 54,540 11.4 11,580 2.5 68.5
Ovary 19,710 10.3 13,270 6.3 50.8
Pancreas 64,050 13.3 50,550 11.1 12.5
Prostate 288,300 113.4 34,700 18.8 97.1
Small Intestine 12,070 2.5 2,070 0.4 69.5
Stomach 26,500 6.9 11,130 2.8 35.7
Testis 9,190 6.0 470 0.3 95.2
Thyroid 43,720 13.9 2,120 0.5 98.5
Uterus 66,200 27.6 13,030 5.1 81.0
Vulva 6,470 2.5 1,670 0.6 69.6
Site Estimated New Cases (2023) Rate of New Cases (2016–2020) Estimated Deaths (2023) Death Rate (2016–2020) Relative Survival (%) (2013–2019)
Anus 6,580 2.3 1,010 0.3 74.0
Bladder 19,870 7.8 4,550 2.0 73.9
Bone and Joint 1,810 0.9 940 0.4 71.9
Brain and Other Nervous System 10,530 5.2 7,970 3.6 36.2
Breast 297,790 126.9 43,170 19.6 90.8
Cervix Uteri 13,960 7.7 4,310 2.2 67.2
Colon and Rectum 71,160 32.0 24,080 11.0 65.8
Esophagus 4,530 1.7 3,200 1.4 23.3
Hodgkin Lymphoma 3,980 2.3 360 0.2 90.2
Kidney and Renal Pelvis 29,440 11.7 4,970 2.2 78.8
Larynx 2,480 1.0 750 0.3 58.6
Leukemia 23,940 10.9 9,810 4.5 66.3
Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct 13,230 5.2 10,380 4.1 22.5
Lung and Bronchus 120,790 45.3 59,910 29.3 29.6
Melanoma of the Skin 39,490 16.7 2,570 1.3 95.0
Myeloma 15,870 5.8 5,590 2.5 59.8
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 35,670 15.5 8,400 3.9 76.2
Oral Cavity and Pharynx 15,250 6.4 3,440 1.4 69.5
Ovary 19,710 10.3 13,270 6.3 50.8
Pancreas 30,920 11.8 23,930 9.6 12.7
Prostate - - - - -
Small Intestine 5,490 2.1 900 0.4 70.5
Stomach 10,570 5.2 4,440 2.1 41.1
Testis - - - - -
Thyroid 31,180 20.2 1,150 0.5 99.0
Uterus 66,200 27.6 13,030 5.1 81.0
Vulva 6,470 2.5 1,670 0.6 69.6
Site Estimated New Cases (2023) Rate of New Cases (2016–2020) Estimated Deaths (2023) Death Rate (2016–2020) Relative Survival (%) (2013–2019)
Anus 3,180 1.6 860 0.3 64.0
Bladder 62,420 31.7 12,160 7.1 79.1
Bone and Joint 2,160 1.2 1,200 0.6 66.6
Brain and Other Nervous System 14,280 7.4 11,020 5.4 31.9
Breast 2,800 1.2 530 0.3 83.8
Cervix Uteri - - - - -
Colon and Rectum 81,860 42.1 28,470 15.7 64.2
Esophagus 17,030 7.2 12,920 6.7 21.3
Hodgkin Lymphoma 4,850 2.8 540 0.3 87.8
Kidney and Renal Pelvis 52,360 23.5 9,920 5.1 76.8
Larynx 9,900 4.7 3,070 1.6 62.4
Leukemia 35,670 17.8 13,900 8.0 67.0
Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct 27,980 14.1 19,000 9.6 21.3
Lung and Bronchus 117,550 56.4 67,160 42.2 21.3
Melanoma of the Skin 58,120 26.9 5,420 3.1 92.3
Myeloma 19,860 8.7 7,000 3.9 59.7
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma 44,880 22.5 11,780 6.7 72.7
Oral Cavity and Pharynx 39,290 17.2 8,140 3.9 68.2
Ovary - - - - -
Pancreas 33,130 15.1 26,620 12.7 12.4
Prostate 288,300 113.4 34,700 18.8 97.1
Small Intestine 6,580 2.9 1,170 0.5 68.6
Stomach 15,930 9.0 6,690 3.8 32.1
Testis 9,190 6.0 470 0.3 95.2
Thyroid 12,540 7.4 970 0.5 96.6
Uterus - - - - -
Vulva - - - - -

How Do the Most Common Cancers Compare by Race/Ethnicity?

The rate and type of cancer diagnosis varies significantly by race and ethnicity. The graph below shows the age-adjusted rate of new cases, by race and ethnicity, for the four most commonly diagnosed cancers.

Site All Races Hispanic NH AI/AN NH API NH Black NH White
Female Breast 126.9 98.5 107.4 106.4 128.3 136.3
Colon and rectum 36.6 33.4 48.3 29.7 42.7 37.1
Lung & Bronchus 50.0 26.2 47.3 34.0 53.8 56.4
Prostate 113.4 86.9 73.2 59.3 184.2 111.5

Age-adjusted rates of new cases, SEER 22, 2016–2020
aNon-Hispanic, b Asian & Pacific Islander, c American Indian/Alaska Native

Cancer death rates, or mortality rates, also vary significantly by race and ethnicity. The graph below shows the age-adjusted death rate, by race and ethnicity, for the five most deadly cancers.

Site All Races Hispanic NH AI/AN NH API NH Black NH White
Female Breast 19.6 13.7 17.6 11.7 27.6 19.7
Colon and rectum 13.1 10.7 17.2 9.1 17.6 13.1
Lung & Bronchus 35.0 15.4 34.2 19.8 37.2 38.0
Pancreas 11.1 8.8 10.3 7.5 13.6 11.2
Prostate 18.8 15.3 19.5 8.6 37.5 17.8

Age-adjusted death rates, U.S., 2016–2020
aNon-Hispanic, b Asian & Pacific Islander, c American Indian/Alaska Native

Trends in Rates

What Are the Recent Trends in Rates of New Cancer Cases?

Between 2015 and 2019, the overall age-adjusted rate of new cancers remained stable among men and remained stable among women. During this period, eight of the 19 most common cancers in men and nine of the 21 most common cancers in women showed statistically significant decreases in new cases. For men, lung and bronchus cancer showed the greatest decrease. For women, ovarian cancer showed the greatest decrease.

Trends In New Cases
Male
Prostate 3.8*
Kidney and Renal Pelvis 1.3*
Pancreas 1.2*
Melanoma of the Skin 1.1*
Oral Cavity and Pharynx 0.9
Testis 0.8*
Myeloma 0.7*
All Sites 0.0
Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct -0.2
Leukemia -0.3
Brain and Other Nervous System -0.4*
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma -0.4*
Esophagus -0.5
Thyroid -0.8
Colon and Rectum -1.1*
Hodgkin Lymphoma -1.1*
Stomach -1.3*
Bladder -1.8*
Larynx -2.8*
Lung and Bronchus -2.8*
Female
Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct 1.4*
Myeloma 1.4*
Kidney and Renal Pelvis 1.3*
Uterus 1.3*
Melanoma of the Skin 1.1
Pancreas 0.8*
Breast 0.5*
Cervix Uteri 0.5
Oral Cavity and Pharynx 0.5*
Stomach 0.1
All Sites 0.0
Leukemia 0.0
Esophagus -0.1
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma -0.4*
Brain and Other Nervous System -0.5*
Colon and Rectum -0.9*
Hodgkin Lymphoma -1.0*
Lung and Bronchus -1.1*
Bladder -1.3*
Thyroid -1.6*
Larynx -2.3*
Ovary -2.5*

What Are the Recent Trends in Cancer Death Rates?

Between 2016 and 2020, overall age-adjusted death rate decreased on average 2.2 percent per year for men and 2.0 percent for women. During this period, fourteen of the 19 most common cancers in men and fourteen of the 21 most common cancers in women showed statistically significant decreases in death rates. Brain and other nervous system cancer showed the greatest increase in death rates among men. Uterine cancer showed the greatest increase in death rates among women.

Trends In Death Rates
Male
Brain and Other Nervous System 0.4*
Testis 0.3
Pancreas 0.2*
Prostate -0.6*
Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct -0.8*
Oral Cavity and Pharynx -0.8
Esophagus -1.3*
Kidney and Renal Pelvis -1.4*
Thyroid -1.4
Leukemia -1.8*
Myeloma -1.9*
Colon and Rectum -2.0*
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma -2.0*
All Sites -2.2*
Bladder -2.3*
Larynx -2.5*
Stomach -2.5*
Melanoma of the Skin -2.9*
Hodgkin Lymphoma -3.6*
Lung and Bronchus -5.3*
Female
Uterus 0.8*
Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct 0.5*
Oral Cavity and Pharynx 0.5
Brain and Other Nervous System 0.3*
Pancreas 0.0
Cervix Uteri -0.7*
Thyroid -0.7
Breast -1.2*
Esophagus -1.5*
Kidney and Renal Pelvis -1.7*
Melanoma of the Skin -1.7
Stomach -1.8*
All Sites -2.0*
Myeloma -2.0*
Colon and Rectum -2.1*
Leukemia -2.2*
Larynx -2.3*
Bladder -2.4*
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma -2.7*
Ovary -3.3*
Lung and Bronchus -4.3*
Hodgkin Lymphoma -4.8*

Additional Information

Average annual percent change (AAPC) is the year-to-year change averaged over a period of time, in this case, 5 years. Positive AAPC describes an increasing trend and a negative AAPC a decreasing one.

Cancer in Context

How Does Cancer Compare to Other Causes of Death?

Cancer caused 17.8% of all deaths in the United States in 2020. Deaths due to heart disease and cancer caused nearly half of all deaths in the United States. Cancer is the leading cause of death for those under 65 years of age.

Leading Causes of Death in the U.S., 2020
Heart Disease 696,937
Cancer 602,347
Accidents (Unintentional Injury) 200,932
Chronic Lower Respiratory 152,653
Stroke (Cerebrovascular) 160,262
Alzheimer's 134,242
Diabetes 102,187
Nephritis & Nephrosis 52,546
Pneumonia & Influenze 53,542
Intentional Self-Harm (Suicide) 45,977

What Are the U.S. Death Rates?

In the United States, heart disease death rates have decreased for people of all ages. In 1975, heart disease among those less than 65 caused 26% of deaths, compared to 16% in 2020. In those over 65, heart disease caused 44% of deaths in 1975, compared to 22% in 2020.

Neoplasms have slightly increased for people of all ages. In 1975, neoplasms for those less than 65 accounted for 22% of deaths in the United States, compared to 18% in 2020. In those over 65, neoplasms caused 18% of deaths in 1975, compared to 18% in 2020.

Ages <65
Year Heart Disease Cancer
Rate Per 100,000 % of Total Deaths Rate Per 100,000 % of Total Deaths
1975 98.6 26 84.0 22
1976 95.9 26 84.3 23
1977 92.6 26 84.3 23
1978 90.4 26 84.2 24
1979 88.3 26 83.3 24
1980 86.9 26 83.7 24
1981 84.9 26 82.8 25
1982 82.0 26 83.0 26
1983 80.7 26 82.7 26
1984 78.3 25 83.3 26
1985 76.6 25 83.2 26
1986 74.0 24 82.2 26
1987 71.5 23 81.7 26
1988 69.1 22 81.3 26
1989 65.1 21 80.5 26
1990 62.4 21 80.1 26
1991 61.0 20 79.2 26
1992 59.7 20 77.4 26
1993 59.5 20 76.2 26
1994 57.8 20 75.0 26
1995 56.9 20 73.4 25
1996 55.5 20 71.7 26
1997 53.4 21 69.7 27
1998 51.4 20 67.9 27
1999 49.4 20 66.9 27
2000 47.7 19 65.5 27
2001 46.6 19 64.9 26
2002 46.3 19 63.7 26
2003 45.3 19 62.3 26
2004 43.1 19 60.4 26
2005 42.6 18 59.7 26
2006 41.5 18 58.5 26
2007 40.0 18 56.9 26
2008 39.5 18 55.8 26
2009 38.3 18 55.3 26
2010 37.4 18 54.2 27
2011 37.1 18 53.4 26
2012 36.9 18 53.0 26
2013 36.9 18 52.0 26
2014 37.1 18 51.5 25
2015 37.3 18 50.5 25
2016 37.5 17 49.7 24
2017 37.2 17 48.3 23
2018 37.3 17 47.2 23
2019 36.8 17 46.0 22
2020 40.6 16 45.3 18
Ages 65+
Year Heart Disease Cancer
Rate Per 100,000 % of Total Deaths Rate Per 100,000 % of Total Deaths
1975 2734.9 44 995.2 18
1976 2747.4 44 1018.3 18
1977 2656.3 44 1023.3 19
1978 2643.2 44 1035.4 19
1979 2595.8 45 1042.7 19
1980 2652.4 44 1059.1 19
1981 2568.9 44 1060.7 20
1982 2524.7 44 1074.6 20
1983 2532.4 44 1083.5 20
1984 2468.6 43 1093.0 20
1985 2449.2 42 1097.2 20
1986 2389.6 42 1107.5 21
1987 2333.4 41 1111.8 21
1988 2321.1 40 1120.3 21
1989 2184.9 39 1139.1 22
1990 2102.7 39 1147.4 22
1991 2054.6 38 1154.0 23
1992 1995.9 38 1153.7 23
1993 2027.9 37 1161.8 22
1994 1954.3 37 1157.0 23
1995 1927.5 36 1153.6 22
1996 1878.5 36 1142.2 22
1997 1828.4 35 1128.5 22
1998 1791.7 35 1119.6 22
1999 1766.3 34 1125.9 22
2000 1698.3 33 1119.8 22
2001 1648.2 32 1104.4 22
2002 1611.1 32 1097.2 22
2003 1551.7 31 1079.7 22
2004 1449.7 30 1060.8 22
2005 1415.4 30 1053.2 22
2006 1333.7 29 1036.1 22
2007 1268.7 28 1025.1 22
2008 1240.5 28 1009.5 22
2009 1174.6 27 989.8 22
2010 1143.6 27 984.1 22
2011 1114.4 26 966.2 22
2012 1089.7 26 950.7 22
2013 1087.2 26 933.1 21
2014 1065.1 25 921.5 22
2015 1077.2 25 908.4 21
2016 1051.4 25 891.2 21
2017 1050.1 25 874.4 21
2018 1039.2 25 854.5 21
2019 1024.8 25 837.5 21
2020 1049.7 22 825.0 18

Interactive Statistics with SEER*Explorer

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SEER*Explorer is an interactive website that provides easy access to a wide range of SEER cancer statistics. It provides detailed statistics for a cancer site by gender, race, calendar year, age, and for a selected number of cancer sites, by stage and histology.

Explore Additional Cancer Statistics

More About Cancer Surveillance

More Information

Here are some resources for learning more about cancer surveillance:

References

All statistics in this report are based on statistics from SEER and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Most can be found within SEER*Explorer.

Estimates of new cases and deaths for 2023 are projections made by the American Cancer Society (ACS), based on earlier reported data.

Suggested Citation

All material in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

SEER Cancer Statistics Factsheets: Common Cancer Sites. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/common.html