US Sees Surge in Cancer Survivors: More Than 70% Now Live Beyond 5 Years After Diagnosis
In a major breakthrough, the latest data from the American Cancer Society reveals that nearly three-quarters of people diagnosed with cancer are now expected to live for at least five more years. The astonishing figure represents a significant improvement over the 1970s, when just half of those diagnosed were projected to survive another five years.
The surge in survival rates can be attributed, in large part, to decades of dedicated research that has enabled clinicians to develop more effective treatments and interventions. As Dr. Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director of surveillance research at the American Cancer Society, noted, "This stunning victory is largely the result of our collective efforts to improve cancer care." The findings from this report are considered the gold standard in cancer reporting, offering a comprehensive snapshot of cancer trends and outcomes.
The improvements in survival rates have been particularly notable for certain types of cancer. For instance, people diagnosed with lung cancer that has spread to nearby areas and lymph nodes now have a five-year survival rate of 37%, up from just 20% in the mid-1990s. Similarly, breast cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, and melanoma are seeing increased incidence rates, underscoring the need for continued investment in research and development.
However, despite these advances, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths globally, with more cases being diagnosed among non-smokers than ever before. The report's findings also highlight the persistent disparities in cancer outcomes, with Native Americans facing significantly higher death rates from certain types of cancer compared to their white counterparts.
The data suggests that 2 million new cancer diagnoses are expected this year, resulting in approximately 626,140 deaths. Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president of surveillance, prevention and health services research at the American Cancer Society, emphasized the importance of addressing socio-economic factors and ensuring equitable access to high-quality cancer care.
The progress made in cancer treatment has been overshadowed by the Trump administration's cuts to research funding, which threaten the momentum of these breakthroughs. As Dr. Cardinale Smith, chief medical officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, noted, "Decades of research and work have led to longer, better lives for millions of Americans with cancer. We must sustain this investment to continue making progress."
In a major breakthrough, the latest data from the American Cancer Society reveals that nearly three-quarters of people diagnosed with cancer are now expected to live for at least five more years. The astonishing figure represents a significant improvement over the 1970s, when just half of those diagnosed were projected to survive another five years.
The surge in survival rates can be attributed, in large part, to decades of dedicated research that has enabled clinicians to develop more effective treatments and interventions. As Dr. Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director of surveillance research at the American Cancer Society, noted, "This stunning victory is largely the result of our collective efforts to improve cancer care." The findings from this report are considered the gold standard in cancer reporting, offering a comprehensive snapshot of cancer trends and outcomes.
The improvements in survival rates have been particularly notable for certain types of cancer. For instance, people diagnosed with lung cancer that has spread to nearby areas and lymph nodes now have a five-year survival rate of 37%, up from just 20% in the mid-1990s. Similarly, breast cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, and melanoma are seeing increased incidence rates, underscoring the need for continued investment in research and development.
However, despite these advances, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths globally, with more cases being diagnosed among non-smokers than ever before. The report's findings also highlight the persistent disparities in cancer outcomes, with Native Americans facing significantly higher death rates from certain types of cancer compared to their white counterparts.
The data suggests that 2 million new cancer diagnoses are expected this year, resulting in approximately 626,140 deaths. Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president of surveillance, prevention and health services research at the American Cancer Society, emphasized the importance of addressing socio-economic factors and ensuring equitable access to high-quality cancer care.
The progress made in cancer treatment has been overshadowed by the Trump administration's cuts to research funding, which threaten the momentum of these breakthroughs. As Dr. Cardinale Smith, chief medical officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, noted, "Decades of research and work have led to longer, better lives for millions of Americans with cancer. We must sustain this investment to continue making progress."
cancer survival rates are def on the rise! did u no that in the 70s only like 25% of ppl wud survive 5 yrs after diagnosis?! now its over 70%! 
and lung cancer is still a big problem tho... 37% 5 yr survival rate? thats still pretty low 
but its getting better! 
and yea, research funding cuts are whack... we gotta keep investin in cancer research so ppl can get the care they need 
I'm so hyped about these new cancer survival rates!!! Like, 70% of people living beyond 5 years after diagnosis is a total game changer 
. It's all thanks to our collective efforts to improve cancer care, right? 
But let's be real, there's still so much work to be done 
. We need to keep pushing for more research funding and making sure everyone has access to quality care 
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. We need to keep up the momentum and invest in our healthcare system so that we can continue to see improvements like this 
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70% of people diagnosed now live beyond 5 yrs after diagnosis 
it's all thanks to decades of research & devs making cancer treatments more effective 
can't believe how far we've come 
and those disparities in cancer outcomes 
. And what about those non-smokers getting lung cancer diagnoses? That doesn't add up. Plus, why are we only hearing about this now when Trump was in office? It's like they're trying to whitewash their record on cancer research funding 
. I'm not saying it's bad news or anything, but... there's gotta be more to the story 
.
but seriously, what's causing this increase in survival rates? is it because of better meds or something else?
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. We need to keep upping our game and investing in more research to tackle those stubborn cancers like lung cancer 
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. We need to keep pushing for more research & investment in cancer treatment, as Dr. Cardinale Smith so aptly put it - we can't let our progress be threatened by funding cuts 
the only bad news is that some ppl r still gettin left behind cuz of socio-economic factors lol lets hope we dont go bak to the days wen reserch funding got cut back 