The American Association for Cancer Research’s 2026 Cancer Progress Report found that the overall U.S. cancer mortality rate declined 35% between 1991 and 2024, representing nearly 5 million cancer deaths averted. The decline has been largely associated with reduced smoking rates and fewer lung cancer deaths, along with improvements in colorectal and breast cancer outcomes, early detection, and treatment. The report also highlighted continued progress in cancer therapies, including 11 new anticancer therapies and new indications for five existing therapies approved by the FDA between July 2025 and June 2026. While cancer research continues to advance, survival rates vary significantly by cancer type and stage, and the report noted increasing rates of early-onset cancers. Researchers are also studying whether GLP-1 medications may affect the risk or progression of obesity-related cancers, although current evidence remains inconsistent and additional research is needed.
Resource: U.S. Cancer Mortality Declined 35% Since 1991, AACR Report Shows