Cancer Risk Drops Slightly But Remains High

Overall cancer mortality rates in the United States have declined significantly from their peak in 1991, yet new data indicates that incidence rates for several common cancers continue to rise, particularly among women.

According to the 2024 Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, published on April 21, 2025, in the journal Cancer, there has been a steady decline in overall cancer deaths from 2001 through 2022. The American Cancer Society reports that the overall mortality rate decreased by 34% between 1991 and 2022.

Diverging Trends in Cancer Incidence

While death rates are falling, the rate of new diagnoses varies significantly by gender. Data from 2001 through 2013 showed a decline in diagnosis rates among men, which then stabilized through 2021.

In contrast, cancer incidence rates among women increased slightly every year between 2003 and 2021. This trend was only interrupted in 2020, when incidence rates fell significantly across the board. The report attributes this dip to disruptions in medical care and screening caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, noting that rates returned to expected levels after 2020.

The disparity is most pronounced in younger populations. Women younger than 50 are now being diagnosed with cancer almost twice as often as men in the same age group. The gap in incidence rates for this demographic grew from 51% in 2002 to 82% in 2021.

Specific Cancer Trends and Risk Factors

Several specific types of cancer are driving these shifting statistics:

• Breast and Thyroid Cancers: These are seeing rising incidence rates in the under-50 age group.
• Lung Cancer: While rates are decreasing for both genders, the decline is slower in women. In 2021, lung cancer incidence in women under 65 surpassed that of men in the same age group.
• Uterine Cancer: There is an increased risk of uterine cancer among postmenopausal women.
• Pancreatic Cancer: Recent data indicates troubling trends regarding this specific cancer.

Beyond gender and age, other health factors influence risk. Research published via Medical Xpress indicates that cancer risk rises in individuals with autoimmune disorders, though this risk drops following anti-inflammatory therapy.

National Statistics and Public Health Outlook

Federal data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on January 13, 2026, highlights the scale of the impact. In 2022, the latest year for which incidence data is available, 1,851,238 new cancer cases were reported in the United States.

For 2023, the latest year for which death data is available, 613,349 people died of cancer in the U.S.

William L. Dahut, MD, Chief Scientific Officer for the American Cancer Society, emphasizes that these trends underscore the necessity of preventive care to reduce risk or detect cancer as early as possible. He also noted growing inequities in cancer outcomes for certain racial and ethnic groups.

Public health officials warn that the decline in diagnoses during 2020 may have long-term consequences. Because fewer cancers were detected through screening during the pandemic, there is a concern that a larger percentage of cancers may be diagnosed at a late stage in future years.