Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, featuring 21st century progress against lung cancer

This annual report represents a collaborative effort by leading cancer surveillance organizations to present reliable, comprehensive US statistics on cancer incidence and mortality.

Cancer incidence data were obtained from population-based cancer registries funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and/or the National Cancer Institute and compiled by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries. Cancer death data were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics' National Vital Statistics System. Age-standardized rates (per 100,000) and average annual changes in rates calculated with joinpoint regression are reported by cancer type, sex, race and ethnicity, and age. Lung cancer risk factors and outcomes during 2000-2025 were assessed.

Overall cancer incidence rates were 504.6 among males and 443.0 among females during 2018-2019/2021-2022. Excluding 2020, cancer incidence rates were stable among males (2013-2022) and increased 0.4% per year among females (2011-2022). Lung cancer incidence decreased 3.5% among males and 1.9% among females per year during 2018-2022. During 2019-2023, overall cancer death rates were 171.5 among males and 126.3 among females, decreasing 1.6% per year among males and 1.1% among females. During this period, lung cancer death rates decreased 4.7% per year among males and 3.0% among females. Since the early 2000s, smoking fell by one half, early diagnosis of lung cancer increased by two thirds, and 5-year relative survival for lung cancer doubled.

Cancer incidence was stable among males but increased slowly among females. Cancer mortality continued to decline, largely because of sustained progress against lung cancer.