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2026 Cancer Statistics
Cancer Death and Diagnosis Statistics for 2026: 2 RCCA Oncologists Provide Insights into the Numbers
The latest statistics from the American Cancer Society (ACS) detail extraordinary advances in the fight against cancer while underscoring how much more progress is needed, according to two oncologists practicing with Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA).
“Each January, the ACS publishes its annual ‘Cancer Facts & Figures’ report, which provides a wealth of information on recent trends as well as estimates of cancer diagnoses and deaths in the year ahead,” explains Michele Donato, MD, FACP, CPE, MBA, a board-certified medical oncologist at the John Theurer Cancer Center of Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ.
“The big news in this year’s report is that, for the first time ever, the five-year survival rate for all cancers combined reached 70%,” Dr. Donato notes, explaining that the statistic is based on people in the U.S. who were diagnosed between 2015 and 2021.1
She continues, “Further, some of the greatest gains in survival were seen in types of cancer that traditionally have been more aggressive and more likely to be fatal. For example, over the course of roughly 30 years, the five-year relative survival rate for multiple myeloma has increased from 32% to 62%, while the rate for liver cancer has risen from 7% to 22%. There also has been important progress against lung cancer, which claims more lives each year than any other form of cancer. From the mid-1990s to 2015-2021, the five-year survival rate almost doubled, going from 15% to 28%,”1 the physician adds.
Dr. Donato, who specializes in the treatment of malignant blood disorders such as leukemia and multiple myeloma, adds, “While these gains are welcome, they don’t go nearly far enough. No one is satisfied with an overall five-year survival rate of 70%, much less with a rate of 22% for liver cancer or 28% for lung cancer. This is an important milestone worth acknowledging, but it is only a stop along the way as we work to drive these numbers much higher.”
Echoing that sentiment, Mohammad Pazooki, MD, says, “The American Cancer Society estimates that declines in the cancer mortality rate from 1991 through 2023 averted 4.8 million deaths from cancer. That is a wonderful achievement, but the society also estimates that more than 620,000 people in the U.S. will die from cancer this year.1 So, our progress to date is not cause for complacency but rather motivation to redouble our efforts.”
A board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist who practices at RCCA’s offices in Manchester and West Hartford, CT, Dr. Pazooki adds, “Many factors are contributing to the progress we’re making against cancer. Two of the most important are the research advances driving development of highly effective therapies and the efforts of clinicians to provide those therapies to as many patients as possible as soon as possible. As one of the nation’s largest networks of oncology specialists, RCCA is proud to offer patients access to both cutting-edge treatments and clinical trials in our community-based centers near their homes.”
An Unwelcome Rise in Diagnoses of Several Cancers
Dr. Pazooki notes that the ACS report’s welcome news on declining cancer death rates was offset by statistics showing an increase in new cases of breast, prostate, liver, oral, pancreatic and uterine cancer.1 He adds that researchers also identified rising rates of liver cancer and melanoma in women, though not in men.1
“The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 2.1 million people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer in 2026.1 That means that each day of this year, 5,800 people will learn that they have cancer. As a physician who has had to deliver that diagnosis thousands of times over more than 20 years in practice, I know all too well how devastating this news is to the patient and his or her loved ones,” the medical oncologist says. (See accompanying table for national and selected state estimates of 2026 diagnoses for several common cancers.)
He adds, “In reviewing these statistics, I was struck by how many of the cancers that are increasing in incidence can be detected early – and in some cases prevented – by regular screening. For example, colonoscopy allows gastroenterologists to find and remove polyps before colon cancer develops, just as a full body skin exam enables a dermatologist to recognize and excise precancerous lesions. And mammography is a crucial tool in the effort to identify and treat breast cancer in its earliest stages.”
Dr. Donato adds, “There is a great deal that people can do to reduce their risk of developing these cancers and others. Research found that in 2019, roughly 40% of all new cancers and 44% of all cancer deaths in adults aged 30 and older were attributable to lifestyle behaviors that people can change.2 These include smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and poor diet. I recognize that these behaviors are not always easy to change, but the effort is well worth it, considering the benefits to be realized in terms of reduced cancer risk and improved overall health. The start of a new year is a great time to work with your primary care provider on developing and implementing a realistic plan to adopt healthy habits.”
Find Expert Cancer Care Near You in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, D.C., Area
Dr. Donato and Dr. Pazooki are among 90+ medical oncologists and hematologists who practice with Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), one of the nation’s largest networks of oncology specialists. RCCA has more than 20 locations near you across New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, D.C., area. RCCA’s cancer specialists see more than 30,000 new patients each year and provide care to more than 265,000 established patients, collaborating closely with those patients’ other physicians. RCCA physicians offer patients innovative therapies, including immunotherapies and targeted therapy, as well as access to approximately 300 clinical trials. In addition to serving patients who have solid tumors, blood-based cancers, and benign blood disorders, RCCA care centers also provide infusion services to people with a number of non-oncologic conditions—including multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, asthma, iron-deficiency anemia, and rheumatoid arthritis—who take intravenously-administered medications.
To learn more about RCCA, call 844-346-7222 or contact RCCA.
References
- American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2026. Available at https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/all-cancer-facts-figures/2026-cancer-facts-figures.html. Accessed January 14, 2026.
- Islami F, Marlow EC, Thomson B, et al. Proportion and number of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors in the United States, 2019. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;74:405-432.
Table: Estimated Number of New Cases for Selected Cancers, 2026
Source: American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2026.
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