The overall U.S. cancer mortality rate declined by 35% between 1991 and 2024, averting almost 5 million cancer deaths, according to the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Cancer Progress Report. The drop was driven largely by reduced smoking rates and the resulting decline in lung cancer deaths, with advances in early detection and treatment accelerating the trend. Declines in colorectal and breast cancer death rates also contributed substantially.
The report notes that the 5-year survival rate for all cancers combined has reached 71%, a milestone AACR president Keith Flaherty called "a testament to the power of cancer research." However, survival varies sharply by cancer type and stage: pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma have 5-year survival rates of just 14% and 7%, respectively, while breast and prostate cancers exceed 90% overall—though metastatic disease still carries much lower survival (34% for breast, 40% for prostate).
AACR warned that proposed rules allowing federal agencies to terminate grants for reasons unrelated to scientific merit could threaten ongoing clinical trials and future advances. Flaherty urged Congress to maintain sustained federal investment, saying "current turmoil at NIH and other federal health agencies threatens continued progress for patients." The report also highlighted rising early-onset cancer incidence, with a disproportionate increase among females.
Regarding GLP-1 agonists, the report describes evidence as inconsistent: some studies link the drugs to lower risks of obesity-associated cancers and reduced metastasis, but a large review of 48 trials found no significant reduction in overall obesity-related cancer risk, and other research suggests possible increased risk for certain cancers. The AACR also noted that about 40% of U.S. cancer cases are attributable to modifiable risk factors, with obesity rising even as smoking declines.