Amid a constant stream of worrying health news – daily reports about microplastics, pollution, and rising cancer rates in those under 50 - a major breakthrough has emerged.For the first time in history, the survival rate has surpassed 70%. This figure,from the latest report by the American Cancer Society,isn’t just a statistic; it’s concrete proof that science is transforming one of the world’s most feared diseases into a manageable chronic condition.
The Historic Five-Year Turning Point
The report is clear: between 2015 and 2021, 70% of cancer patients survived at least five years. To understand the importance of this success,look back. In the mid-1970s,that rate topped out at 49%. In half a century, we’ve gone from a situation where one in two people died quickly, to a reality where more than two-thirds of patients reach this critical milestone.
In oncology, this five-year mark is crucial. It’s the standard benchmark for measuring treatment effectiveness, because after this period without recurrence, the chances of the disease returning drop dramatically.
Rebecca Siegel, scientific director at the American Cancer Society (ACS), sums it up well:
