Cancer Survival Reaches 70% Benchmark, Sparking Optimism and Caution
The American Cancer Society reports that for patients diagnosed between 2015 and 2021, 70% survived at least five years, a dramatic rise from 49% in the 1970s, thanks to better treatments, early detection, and reduced smoking. Gains extend to previously deadly cancers (myeloma, liver, lung) and to advanced-stage disease, with an estimated 4.8 million cancer deaths prevented from 1991-2023. Yet rising incidence in several cancers and persistent disparities—Native Americans showing higher mortality—underscore ongoing inequities. With more than 2 million new cases expected in 2026, and policy funding cuts risking research progress, sustained investment remains crucial.
