Cancer Survival Rate Hits Historic 70% in the U.S.

After decades of research and determination, cancer patients finally have something to celebrate: seven out of ten people diagnosed with cancer now survive at least five years.

The American Cancer Society announced this month that the five-year survival rate for all cancers combined reached 70% for people diagnosed between 2015 and 2021. That's up from just 50% in the 1970s, and the cancer death rate has dropped 34% since peaking in 1991.

Dr. Hans Elzinga, who directs the Special Procedures Clinic for Salud Family Health in Longmont, Colorado, says three major factors are saving lives. The biggest game changer? Fewer people smoking cigarettes.

Lung cancer remains the deadliest cancer in America, killing more people than colorectal and pancreatic cancers combined. Over 90% of lung cancer deaths involve smokers, making smoking cessation the most powerful tool doctors have to prevent cancer deaths.

The second lifesaver is cancer screening. Finding cancers early makes them far easier to treat, and some screenings can actually prevent cancer from developing in the first place. When doctors remove precancerous polyps during colonoscopies, they stop colon cancer before it starts.

The third breakthrough comes from new therapies that are helping even patients with late-stage cancers survive longer. These innovative treatments represent years of scientific research finally paying off for patients who once had few options.

Why This Inspires

Behind every percentage point in that 70% survival rate is a real person who gets more birthdays, more holidays, and more time with loved ones. It's a parent seeing their child graduate, a grandparent meeting a new grandchild, or a friend who simply gets to stick around longer.

The progress hasn't happened overnight. It's taken 50 years of research, advocacy, and medical innovation to move from 50% to 70% survival. But those decades of work mean millions of families aren't losing someone they love to cancer.

Dr. Elzinga emphasizes that people can take control of their own cancer risk through healthy choices. Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, and limiting alcohol can prevent about half of colorectal cancer cases.

While challenges remain, including rising cancer rates in younger adults, the overall trend tells a story of hope. Science is winning the fight against cancer, one patient at a time.