Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, featuring 21st century progress against lung cancer
Cancer incidence data from population-based cancer registries funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and/or the National Cancer Institute and compiled by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries were analyzed to provide an annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, featuring 21st century progress against lung cancer. Cancer death data were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics’ National Vital Statistics System. This figure shows twenty-year trends in age-standardized incidence and deaths. Overall cancer incidence rates were 504.6 per 100,000 among males and 443.0 per 100,000 among females during 2018-2019/2021-2022. Excluding 2020, cancer incidence rates were stable among males (2013-2022) and increased 0.4% per year among females (2011-2022). Lung cancer incidence decreased 3.5% among males and 1.9 among females per year during 2018-2022. During 2019-2023, overall cancer deaths were 171.5 per 100,000 among males and 126.3 per 100,000 among females. During this period, lung cancer death rates decreased 4.7% per year among males and 3.0% among females. Since the early 2000s, smoking fell by one half, early diagnosis of lung cancer increased by two third, and 5-year relative survival for lung cancer doubles. The authors conclude that cancer incidence was stable among males and increased slowly among females. Cancer mortality continued to decline, largely because of sustained progress against lung cancer.