The overall death rates from cancer have declined steadily among both men and women in the US over the past two decades, even during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the 2024 Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, cancer incidence has also decreased for some types of cancers, while others have seen a rise.
The report shows that declines in both incidence and death rates for lung cancer and other smoking-related cancers have contributed significantly to progress in reducing cancer deaths overall. In contrast, obesity-related cancers such as breast, uterus, colon, and rectum cancers have seen an increase in new diagnoses.
While there has been some variation in trends across different racial and ethnic groups, the report also highlights a decline in cancer death rates for all major population groups from 2018 to 2022. Additionally, the magnitude of the decline was similar across states despite variations in COVID-19 policy restrictions.
The researchers note that these findings underscore the importance of providing access to healthcare during public health emergencies to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer provides an annual update on cancer trends in the US, based on data from population-based cancer registries and cancer death data from the National Vital Statistics System.
This report is a collaborative effort among the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Cancer Society, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.
Source: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/annual-report-nation-cancer-deaths-continue-decline