Cancer statistics, 2024

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The American Cancer Society annually tracks cancer statistics in the U.S.
• Cancer mortality has declined since 1991 due to reduced smoking, early detection, and improved treatments.
• However, recent trends show increasing incidence for several cancers, posing a threat to these gains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the latest U.S. cancer statistics for 2024, including projected cases and deaths.
• To analyze trends in cancer incidence and mortality through 2021.
• To highlight disparities in cancer outcomes and identify areas for intervention.

Main Methods:

• Utilized incidence data from central cancer registries (through 2020).
• Employed mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics (through 2021).
• Analyzed population-based cancer occurrence and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Projected 2,001,140 new cancer cases and 611,720 deaths in the U.S. for 2024.
• Cancer mortality declined through 2021, averting over 4 million deaths since 1991.
• Incidence rates increased for breast, pancreas, uterine corpus, prostate, liver, kidney, HPV-associated oral cancers, and melanoma (2015-2019).
• Colorectal cancer incidence rose in young adults, becoming a leading cause of death in this demographic.
• Significant disparities persist: Black individuals have double the mortality for prostate, stomach, and uterine corpus cancers; Native Americans for liver, stomach, and kidney cancers compared to White individuals.

Conclusions:

• Despite overall mortality declines, rising incidence for key cancers and persistent disparities threaten progress.
• Urgent need for increased investment in cancer prevention and equitable treatment access, especially for American Indian/Alaska Native and Black populations.
• Addressing these trends is crucial for continued national progress in cancer control.