2017 American Cancer Society Statistics

The ACS estimates that almost 1.7 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2017 in the U.S. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, accounting for 19%, followed by lung (14%) and colorectal cancers (9%). Among women, breast cancer (30%), lung cancer (12%), and colorectal (8%) are the most common.

An estimated 318,420 U.S. men die from cancer each year. Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death among men (27%), followed by colorectal (9%) and prostate cancers (8%).

There have been notable improvements in survival rates for most cancer types due to earlier detection and/or advances in treatment. For example, the 5-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer was 68% in 1975-77, compared to 99% in 2006-2012.

Reduction of Cancer Mortality Rates in the U.S.

Astudy published in JAMA found that cancer mortality rates in the U.S. have declined by more than 20% since 1980. Researchers examined death rates of 29 different cancers from 1980 to 2014.

The data showed that more than 1 million U.S. men have died of prostate cancer since 1980. Yet, prostate cancer mortality fell by almost 22% between 1980 and 2014. The prostate cancer mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 population per year) decreased by more than 51% during the PSA screening era 1992-2013 (the latest figures available).

However, there were significant variations in mortality rates in different counties throughout the period for prostate and other cancers. The highest death death rates from prostate cancer were in groups of counties in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia. These counties have a large proportion of rural African American men who have a relatively high prostate cancer mortality rate. Counties in southern Florida and in states along the U.S. border with Mexico had lower rates of prostate cancer death. These counties have a large proportion of Hispanic men who have a relatively lower prostate cancer mortality rate.

The researchers wrote that the patterns may inform further research into improving prevention and treatment.