Seven in 10 cancer patients now survive five years, a triumph that could vanish if federal funding falters.

Story Snapshot

• The American Cancer Society reports a 70% five-year survival rate for 2015-2021 diagnoses, up from 50% in the 1970s.
• Largest gains hit advanced and fatal cancers: myeloma from 32% to 62%, liver from 7% to 22%, lung from 15% to 28%.
• Distant-stage survival has doubled to 35% since the mid-1990s, yet incidence rises with 2 million cases projected for 2026.
• Progress stems from research, less smoking, early detection; disparities persist for Native Americans and Blacks.
• Leaders warn funding cuts and insurance threats could reverse victories earned over decades.

Cancer Survival Reaches Historic 70% Milestone

The American Cancer Society released Cancer Statistics, 2026 on January 13, 2026, in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Data covers diagnoses from 2015-2021, showing 70% five-year relative survival for all cancers combined. This marks the first time survival hit this level. Incidence data runs through 2022 from central registries; mortality through 2023 from National Center for Health Statistics. Projections estimate 2 million new cases and over 620,000 deaths in 2026.

Rebecca Siegel, ACS Senior Scientific Director and lead author, called it a stunning victory. Research tools turned deadly cancers into manageable chronic conditions. Reduced tobacco use slashed lung cancer risks. Screenings caught tumors earlier. New therapies targeted advanced stages effectively.

Biggest Wins in Advanced and Fatal Cancers

Myeloma survival jumped from 32% to 62%. Liver cancer rose from 7% to 22%. Lung cancer climbed from 15% to 28%. Distant-stage lung survival specifically doubled from 2% to 10%. Overall distant-stage survival increased from 17% to 35% since the mid-1990s. Regional lung survival advanced from 20% to 37%.

These shifts reflect decades of federal-funded research. Treatments now control cancers long deemed fatal. Common sense demands protecting this momentum. Conservative values prioritize self-reliance through prevention like quitting smoking, yet recognize the government’s role in breakthroughs.

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Rising Incidence Contrasts Declining Deaths

Lung cancer remains the top killer, outpacing colorectal and pancreatic combined. Breast, endometrial, prostate, and pancreatic cancers show rising cases. Mortality declines overall due to better outcomes. Native Americans face highest rates for kidney, liver, stomach, and cervix cancers—twice White rates.

Ahmedin Jemal, ACS Senior VP, attributes disparities to access and socioeconomics. William Dahut, Chief Scientific Officer, credits tobacco drops, screenings, and therapies on ABC’s Good Morning America. Equity requires equal access plus targeted care, aligning with American ideals of fairness.

Shane Jacobson, ACS CEO, warns federal funding cuts and insurance threats could undo progress. ACS Cancer Action Network lobbies for sustained investment. Survivorship demands attention: physical, emotional, financial burdens grow with more long-term survivors.

ACS Annual Statistics Report: Milestone 70 Percent 5-Year Survival Rate for all Cancers Combined; Largest Gains for Advanced and Fatal Cancers https://t.co/vInWfzdSq3

— PR Newswire Top Stories (@PRN_TopStories) January 13, 2026

Threats to Progress and Equity Gaps

Oncology evolves toward chronic care management. Clinicians and caregivers need resources for millions more reaching five years. Disparities hit Black communities in prostate and endometrial cancers, Alaskan Natives in colorectal. Facts support closing gaps through screenings in closed systems, as Dahut notes.

Federal research fueled these gains since the 1970s baseline of 50%. Common sense backs protecting investments that save lives without waste. ACS, tracking cancer since 1951, stands as the gold standard. Continued advocacy ensures breakthroughs reach all Americans.

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Sources:

https://pressroom.cancer.org/cancer-statistics-report-2026
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/people-living-5-years-after-cancer-diagnosis-new/story?id=129144499
https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.70043