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ACS releases new Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Statistics

According to a new ACS report, Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Statistics, 2025, the number of people living with a history of cancer in the United States is estimated at 18.6 million as of January 1, 2025, and projected to exceed 22 million by 2035. The study also found notable disparities in treatment for many common cancers, including lung and colorectal. The findings are published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, alongside its consumer-friendly companion, Fast Facts: Cancer Treatment and Survivorship.

“Behind every survivor of cancer, there is a story of resilience, but also of unmet needs,” said Dr. Nikita Sandeep Wagle, principal scientist, cancer surveillance research and lead author of the report. “Many survivors cope with critical issues, such as long-term effects of treatment, financial hardship, and fear of recurrence. It’s vital we recognize and respond to these needs in an equitable manner.”

For the study, ACS and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) collaborated to estimate cancer prevalence in the US using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registries, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, and the US Census Bureau. In addition, cancer treatment patterns were presented from the National Cancer Database along with a brief overview of treatment‐related side effects.

Highlights of the study include:

  • The three most prevalent cancers are prostate (3,552,460), melanoma of the skin (816,580), and colorectal (729,550) among males and breast (4,305,570), uterine corpus (945,540), and thyroid (859,890) among females.
  • About one half (51%) of survivors were diagnosed within the past 10 years, and nearly four out of five (79%) survivors were aged 60 years and older.
  • The number of survivors varies by state, from almost two million in California to about 32,000 in Wyoming and 29,000 in the District of Columbia, largely reflecting population size.
  • The number of female breast cancer survivors is projected to reach 5.3 million by January 1, 2035 – an increase of one million women from 2025, marking the largest projected growth among the top 10 most prevalent cancers.
  • Uninsured people diagnosed with stage I colorectal cancer have lower five-year survival rates than privately insured people with stage II disease.
  • Racial differences in treatment in 2021 were common across disease stage. Black people with stage I‐II lung cancer were less likely to undergo surgery than their White counterparts (47% vs. 52%).
  • Larger disparities exist for rectal cancer, with 39% of Black people with stage I disease undergoing surgery compared to 64% of their White counterparts.

“Efforts to expand access to high‐quality care regardless of your skin color or bank balance are vital to reducing disparities and advancing equity for everyone affected by cancer, which is ultimately all of us,” said Rebecca Siegel, senior author of the study. “We need to do more to level the playing field and end barriers to quality care both during and after treatment.”

“These findings demonstrate that early detection and improved treatment are making a real difference in the fight against cancer,” said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “There continues to be an urgent need to protect and expand access to care, especially at a time when proposed cuts to Medicaid and prevention and screening programs threaten to reverse our progress and undo the gains we have achieved. We cannot afford to turn back the clock now. ACS CAN will continue to work with lawmakers to stress that cuts have consequences and will only slow our work to end cancer as we know it, for everyone.” 

Other ACS researchers contributing to the study include Dr. Leticia Nogueira, Dr. Robin Yabroff, Dr. Farhad Islami, Dr. Rick Alteri, and Dr. Ahmedin Jemal.

  • ACS participates in ASCO annual meeting

    The annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) begins Friday, May 30, in Chicago, IL, running until Tuesday, June 3. With more than 45,000 oncology professionals from around the world attending, the meeting is one of the largest and most diverse audiences in global oncology. The American Cancer Society will have a strong presence at the meeting, with an exhibit booth, leaders in attendance, and ACS experts presenting important research.

    New approaches and combinations of immunotherapies, alongside cutting-edge targeted therapies for rare and advanced cancers, will be highlighted at this year’s meeting. Featured studies will also explore how lifestyle changes can help reduce cancer risk and improve survival and will spotlight the exciting potential of AI and other technologies to revolutionize patient care.

    The theme for the 2025 annual meeting is, Driving Knowledge to Action: Building a Better Future. This year, team members from Discovery, Patient Support, ACS CAN, Development, Marketing, and Communications will be attending and managing key aspects of ACS involvement at ASCO.

    Discovery

    This year's ASCO annual meeting will feature more than 6,000 abstracts and 200 sessions. ACS team​​​ members will give more than 30 poster presentations, oral abstracts, and other presentations. In addition, more than 100 posters and 26 presentations will be given by ACS grantees. Almost 50 ACS research professors will be presenting during the event as well. 

    Below are just a few of the ACS submissions shared before the conference. Watch the ACS newsroom for more details of the research presented by our team members during the conference. 

    Association of Medicaid expansion with five-year survival after cancer diagnosis
    Presenter: Elizabeth Schafer

    In this study, Medicaid expansion was associated with greater increases in 5-year observed and cause-specific survival for non-Hispanic Black individuals, individuals living in the most deprived areas, and rural communities. These findings reinforce the importance of Medicaid expansion in reducing disparities in cancer survival outcomes.

    Association of court-documented major adverse financial events before cancer diagnosis and mortality risk in the U.S.
    Presenter: Robin Yabroff

    In this study, court-documented major adverse financial events (AFEs) of pre-diagnosis bankruptcy, lien, or eviction are associated with increased risk of all-cause and cancer-specific mortality for multiple cancer types. The findings underscore lasting adverse consequences of patient financial vulnerability prior to incurring high out-of-pocket costs of cancer treatment. The research is especially timely, with growing efforts by health care providers to screen and address patient health-related social needs as part of comprehensive oncology care.

    Spillover effects of Medicaid expansion on insurance coverage, diagnosis, and survival among low-income elderly patients with cancer
    Presenter: Kewei Sylvia Shi
    Conquer Cancer Merit Award

    In this study, Medicaid expansion was associated with an increase in Medicaid coverage, early-stage cancer diagnoses, and improved two-year survival among patients diagnosed with cancer 65 years or older. The findings underscore the spillover benefits of Medicaid expansion in supporting low-income elderly populations and the importance of indirect benefits when evaluating Medicaid expansion's broader impact.

    Association of county-level medical debt and timely treatment initiation among individuals newly diagnosed with cancer
    Presenter: Jingxuan Zhao

    In this study, county-level medical debt in collections was associated with delays in treatment initiation among individuals newly diagnosed with cancer. Policies aimed at preventing and alleviating medical debt could be effective strategies for improving access to timely cancer treatment.

    Medicare plan switching, hospice enrollment, and place of hospice services at the end-of-life among decedent patients diagnosed with distant stage cancers in 2010-2019
    Presenter: Xin Hu

    In this study, continuous Medicare Advantage (MA) coverage was associated with a greater likelihood of hospice utilization, particularly at home. In contrast, switching from MA to Traditional Medicare and gaining dual eligibility were associated with greater reliance on nursing homes for hospice care. Future research examining patient-centered outcomes across plan-switching patterns and addressing care coordination gaps to ensure equitable hospice care is warranted.

    ACS Exhibit Booth

    Cross-pillar representation will be at our booth at ASCO where we will be talking to health professionals about ACS and our high-value resources that support their career growth and further cancer research. Resources include: 

    • American Cancer Society and ASCO cancer.org content

    • Curated cross-pillar professional educational offerings (ACS LION, CAPC)

    • Curated cross-pillar patient support (ACS CancerRisk360, ACS CARES) & research resources 

    • Open access to trusted, evidence-based resources:

      • Cancer Facts & Figures, Cancer Atlas

      • ACS Journals

  • OWN TV star supports VOICES of Black Women study recruitment

    OWN and its health initiative campaign, OWN Your Health, have posted their VOICES of Black Women public service announcement (PSA) as part of their strategic partnership with ACS.

    In March, OWN launched a dedicated web page, OWN.tv/Voices, and announced plans for a campaign of tactics to support VOICES study recruitment. The campaign includes a PSA with Love & Marriage Huntsville talent Kimmi Grant-Scott, a breast cancer survivor and VOICES Ambassador. The PSA will be broadcast on air during the following times:

    • During prime premieres Friday and Saturday nights, the :30-second spot is being added to the schedule.
    • During days where promotional availability exists, the :60-second spot is being added.​

    Team members and volunteers are encouraged to like and share the posts featuring the PSA on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

  • Healthy nutrition and physical lifestyle choices lower cancer mortality risk for survivors

    In 2022, ACS updated its nutrition and activity guidelines for cancer survivors, recommending they avoid obesity, stay physically active, eat a healthy diet, and limit alcohol intake. New research by ACS scientists shows that a lifestyle aligned with these guidelines is associated with a lower mortality risk among non-smoking survivors of obesity-related cancers in the United States. Survivors who maintained a healthy lifestyle both before and after their diagnosis — or those who improved their habits after diagnosis — also had a lower mortality risk. The study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI).

    “A cancer diagnosis often motivates people to think about how they can live healthier lives. Many survivors want to know what lifestyle changes they can make to improve their chances of living longer,” said Dr. Ying Wang, senior principal scientist, epidemiology research, and lead author of the study. “These findings underscore how making the right lifestyle choices truly affects cancer survival.”

    Other ACS researchers contributing to this study include Christina Newton, Dr. Marjorie McCullough, Dr. Lauren Teras, Dr. Clara Bodelon, Dr. Erika Rees-Punia, Dr. Caroline Um, Dr. Laura Makaroff, and senior author Dr. Alpa Patel.

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  • Medicaid expansion associated with slower increase in mortality during COVID-19 pandemic

    ​Despite a nationwide rise in mortality rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, adults in Medicaid expansion states experienced a slower increase in deaths than non-expansion states, according to a study led by ACS researchers. These findings suggest a protective effect of Medicaid expansion on population health in the United States during the public health emergency. The findings are published in the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH). 

    “This research is important because many people experienced employment disruptions during the pandemic, which, in addition to loss of household income, also led to loss of employment-based health insurance coverage,” said Dr. Xuesong Han, scientific director, health services research, and lead author of the study. “Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act could improve access to care and reduce health disparities during the public health emergency.”

    “With 10 states having yet to expand Medicaid eligibility, our findings add to the growing body of evidence for the benefits of Medicaid expansion,” Dr. Han added. “Additionally, findings highlight the importance of maintaining support for existing Medicaid coverage in 40 states and the District of Columbia. These data also highlight the importance of monitoring lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to care and population health, especially as millions of people have lost coverage during post-pandemic Medicaid unwinding throughout 2023-2024.”

    “This study reinforces the well-established evidence that Medicaid expansion improves health outcomes and reduces health disparities,” said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “Ensuring individuals have access to quality, affordable health insurance through Medicaid is critical to the fiscal and physical health of our country. With Medicaid on the federal chopping block, it’s imperative that Congress recognize the indisputable value of this health insurance program and protect it from any form of cuts.”

    Other ACS researchers contributing to this study include Kewei Sylvia Shi, Dr. Qinjin Fan, Dr. Parichoy Pal Choudhury, Dr. Xin Hu, and senior author Dr. Robin Yabroff.

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  • Dual-use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes exposes adults to same cancer and health risks as cigarette use only

    A new study led by ACS shows adults in the United States using combustible cigarettes and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), commonly referred to as dual-use, experienced the same tobacco-related nicotine and toxicant exposure compared to using cigarettes alone at the same intensity. This exposure indicates potential for cancer, cardiovascular, reproductive/developmental, and respiratory harms. The findings were published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research (NTR).

    “In the U.S., dual-use of combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes is the most common multiple tobacco-use behavior. Some individuals try to cut back on cigarettes or work toward quitting cigarettes this way,” said Zheng (Ashley) Xue, senior associate scientist, tobacco control research, and lead author of the study. “However, our results highlight that dual-use is not an effective way to safeguard health and more evidence that tobacco use is harmful.”

    “Clinicians and public health practitioners should increase awareness that dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes is not safe and may present similar risks as continuing to smoke cigarettes, especially if one does not reduce the number of cigarettes smoked,” Xue added. 

    "It's essential that we continue to advocate for policies that have been proven to reduce tobacco usage," said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of ACS CAN. “We will continue to work with federal, state, and local lawmakers to pass strong laws and implement critical regulations that will increase access to barrier-free, culturally competent proven cessation services, end the sale of all flavored tobacco products, substantially increase tobacco taxes, and implement comprehensive smoke-free policies. These fact-based tobacco prevention and cessation programs are critical to help those addicted to quit and prevent anyone, especially youth, from ever starting. Additionally, the FDA must use the full weight of its authority to regulate all tobacco products, including removing the thousands of illegal products on the market that have not been shown to benefit the public health.” 

    Other ACS researchers contributing to the study include Eva Orr, Dr. Nigar Nargis, Dr. Minal Patel, and senior author Dr. Tyler Nighbor.  

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  • ACS to showcase cutting-edge research at AACR meeting

    ​From April 25 – 30, ACS will participate in the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL. The meeting is the focal point of the cancer research community, where scientists, clinicians, other health care professionals, survivors, patients, and advocates gather to share the latest advances in cancer science and medicine. ACS team members will be there to discuss the latest breakthroughs, make connections, and forge collaborations. 

    Four team members will be sharing poster presentations:

    • Global burden and trends in cancer incidence and mortality among young adults – Kieran Patrick Kelly
    • Associations of smoking with the risk of second primary cancer in adults with a history of various cancer types – Hyuna Sung
    • Use of large language models for clinical data abstraction from oncologic medical records – Jillian Nelson
    • Differences in complete screening adherence across age, income, and education groups – Kierstin Faw

    In addition, ACS on Tuesday, April 29, will recognize Loic Le Marchand, MD, PhD, associate director for population sciences at the University of Hawai’i Cancer Center, as this year’s AACR/ACS award winner for outstanding research in cancer epidemiology and prevention. The AACR and ACS established the award in 1992 to honor outstanding research accomplishments in cancer epidemiology, biomarkers, and prevention.

  • ACS releases Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Report

    ​The ACS Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Report, released April 23, shows mixed progress in major cancer risk factors, preventive behaviors, and screenings in a post-COVID-19 pandemic period among adults in the US. Smoking rates continued a long-term declining trend during the COVID-19 pandemic, but 27 million adults still smoked in 2023. Breast and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rebounded after decreasing or stalling during the pandemic. However, past-year cervical cancer screening remained lower than pre-pandemic levels, continuing a disappointing pattern in up-to-date screening in the past two decades. Additionally, HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination uptake was flat from 2021 to 2023, departing from prior years. Other major risk factors, such as excess body weight, physical inactivity, and heavy alcohol use remained stable during the pandemic, but were largely suboptimal.

    The findings were released in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), as well as in the biennial ACS report Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Facts & Figures, 2025-2026.

    “Cancer prevention and early detection are central to the American Cancer Society’s goal to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer,” said Dr. Priti Bandi scientific director, cancer risk factors & screening surveillance research, and lead author of the study. “These latest findings are encouraging, mainly the reduction in smoking rates and screening for certain cancers, but it’s clear urgent efforts are needed to address lagging cervical cancer prevention.”

    An estimated 40% of cancer cases in the U.S. are attributable to modifiable risk factors, including cigarette smoking, excess body weight, dietary factors, physical inactivity, ultraviolet radiation exposure, and seven cancer-causing infections, like HPV. Cancer screening tests can further prevent thousands of additional cancer cases and deaths.

    Report highlights in select cancer risk factors and screenings include:

    Tobacco
    Cigarette smoking declined to 11% in 2023. However, high smoking prevalence remains in American Indian/Alaska Native individuals, Black males, individuals with lower education, and bisexual females. 

    Menthol-flavored cigarettes, which can increase smoking uptake and reduce cessation success, were used by 36% of all adults who smoked in 2023; this level is double or more in Black individuals (76%) and bisexual individuals (63%).

    Flavors make tobacco products more appealing to youth. Close to 9-in-10 high school students who reported currently using tobacco products used a flavored product, from 90% for e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, 71% for cigars, to 42% for cigarettes (menthol).

    Cancer Screening
    Up-to-date breast cancer screening rebounded and exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2023 (80%) after declining during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
     
    CRC screening also increased in 2023 (60% overall; for colonoscopy: 54%; for stool testing: 11%) after stalling during the pandemic. 

    Up-to-date cervical cancer screening in 2021 (73%) remained below pre-pandemic levels, continuing a longer-term trend of declining since the early 2000s.

    HPV Vaccination
    Diverging from previously increasing trends, up-to-date HPV vaccination prevalence in adolescents 13-17 years of age remained flat between 2021 and 2023 (61%), largely reflecting pandemic-related disruptions.

    Excess Body Weight
    Excess body weight in adults remained high and stable during the COVID-19 pandemic, with approximately 72% classified as obese (40%) or overweight (32%) during August 2021 to August 2023.

    Physical Activity
    Remaining unchanged from 2020, less than half of adults (48%) met recommended physical activity levels, and an estimated one-third (27%) reported no leisure-time physical activity in 2022. 

    Alcohol
    Heavy alcohol use in adults was 6% in 2022, similar to levels in 2020, but is disproportionately higher in middle age, particularly for females who are of higher socioeconomic status, White, and bisexual. 

    “Our report underscores the need to strengthen efforts to improve access and receipt of preventive services, including cancer screening, HPV vaccination, and counseling and treatment for tobacco dependence,” said Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president, surveillance and health equity science at the American Cancer Society and senior author of the report. “We must also work to identify individuals of racially/ethnically diverse groups and socioeconomic positions who continue to be greatly affected by cancer to accelerate progress against the disease.” 

    “These findings only further prove how investments in tobacco control have helped reduce the number of people falling prey to Big Tobacco’s deadly products and practices. Federal agencies have played a major role in helping to drive the successful reduction of smoking rates through critical tobacco control programs and funding. We are deeply concerned that recent cuts to these important agencies will jeopardize continued progress to reduce tobacco utilization nationwide,” said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “Additionally, as we continue our efforts to reduce cervical cancer mortality rates, it is vital that we expand access to life-saving screenings. The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) has long served as a crucial resource for limited-income, uninsured, and underinsured women, providing them with critical screenings and treatment. Congress now has an opportunity to pass the Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act, which would reauthorize the NBCCEDP and expand its reach to more people who may not otherwise be screened. We urge Congress to take this meaningful step towards reducing cancer disparities, saving lives, and lowering long-term health care costs.” 

    A first step to guide individuals to prevent and detect cancer is the ACS CancerRisk360 risk assessment tool. Individuals can answer questions in four key areas and receive personalized tips to help reduce their risk of cancer. Visit acscancerrisk360.cancer.org to access this important tool.

    In addition to ACS CancerRisk360, ACS continues to promote its “I Love You Get Screened” campaign, encouraging people to discuss cancer screening with their loved ones.

    Other ACS researchers contributing to the study include Jessica Star, Natalia Mazzitelli, Dr. Nigar Nargis, Dr. Farhad Islami, Rebecca Siegel, and Dr. Robin Yabroff.  

  • Chemotherapy and endocrine therapy have different long-term effects on physical health decline for breast cancer survivors

    A new study led by ACS investigators shows breast cancer survivors in the United States receiving chemotherapy or endocrine therapy (without chemotherapy) had different long-lasting physical health decline compared to women who were cancer-free. Physical health is the body’s ability to function normally and includes factors like being able to carry out activities, daily living, fatigue, or pain. The findings are published Feb. 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open.

    “Patients with breast cancer suffer from an abundance of long-term and late health effects and are at risk of earlier onset disease and higher incidence of chronic health conditions,” said Dr. Clara Bodelon, senior principal scientist, survivorship research at ACS and lead author of the report. “These findings are important because understanding factors related to their physical health decline could lead to interventions to improve their health outcomes.”

    “This is encouraging news for breast cancer survivors. If they do not receive chemotherapy, it is unlikely that they will have long-lasting physical health decline,” Bodelon added. “However, further studies are needed to confirm these results and to better understand the health consequences of these treatments.”

    Dr. Lauren Teras is the senior author of the study. Other ACS researchers who contributed to the report include Matthew Masters, Den E Bloodworth, Peter Briggs, Dr. Erika Rees-Punia, Dr. Lauren McCullough, and Dr. Alpa Patel.

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