U.S. Cancer Survival Rates Highlight Gaps Across Ten Deadly Types

The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics 2025 report projects roughly 618,120 cancer deaths and over 2,041,910 new cases in the United States, highlighting stark differences in survival across ten deadly cancers. Five-year relative survival rates range from low percentages for cancers like pancreatic and liver to high rates for cancers such as breast and prostate, though the report does not give a specific figure for prostate survival.

Stage at diagnosis is identified as the primary determinant of outcomes, prompting screening guidelines for several cancers, including low-dose CT for lung cancer and colonoscopy for colorectal cancer. Risk factors such as smoking, obesity, viral infections and genetic predispositions are outlined for each disease. The data reflect outcomes for patients diagnosed in prior years, meaning recent treatment advances may not yet be reflected.