US Cancer Mortality Rates Fell 35 Percent Since 1991
Advances in early detection and lifestyle habits helped avert millions of cancer-related deaths nationwide.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Cancer
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Between 1991 and 2024, the cancer death rate in the United States declined by 35%, a shift that averted more than 4.8 million deaths. This progress coincides with an overall five-year survival rate of 70% for patients diagnosed between 2015 and 2021.
Why it matters
While survival rates have improved due to better early detection and smoking cessation, these gains face uncertainty as federal research funding encounters proposed budget cuts. Maintaining progress remains tied to sustained investment in the basic research that drives new therapeutic development.
National surveillance shows a 35% decline in mortality since 1991 and a 70% five-year survival rate for cancers diagnosed from 2015 to 2021. While thyroid, prostate, and skin cancers show survival rates of 95% or higher, liver, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers remain below 22%.
The players
Food and Drug Administration
The federal agency responsible for evaluating and approving the safety and efficacy of new anticancer therapeutics.
National Institutes of Health
The primary federal agency that funds basic medical research, now facing potential budget reductions.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
An alliance of cancer centers that establishes evidence-based clinical guidelines for cancer treatment.
The details
Progress in cancer outcomes stems from a combination of government-funded basic research and industry-led clinical trials that translate findings into new treatments. Between July 2025 and June 2026, the FDA approved 11 new anticancer therapeutics, such as Rasonque (daraxonrasib) for pancreatic cancer, which has shown a median life extension of 13.2 months. However, systemic challenges persist, as less than 62% of lung cancer patients currently receive the specific treatments recommended by national guidelines.
Timeline
The decline in the US cancer death rate began in 1991.
The 70% overall five-year survival rate covers patients diagnosed between 2015 and 2021.
The FDA approved 11 new anticancer therapeutics between July 2025 and June 2026.
Federal budget cuts to the NIH and NCI were formally proposed in 2025.
A 12% cut to the NIH budget is proposed for the 2027 fiscal year.
Health Landscape
Decades of declining cancer mortality were fueled by consistent investment in the NIH and the pipeline of basic research. The proposed 12% cut to the NIH budget marks a departure from the historical funding levels that supported the development of recent therapeutic breakthroughs.
Patients should verify that their treatment plans align with National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, as studies show only 62% of lung cancer cases currently meet these standards. Always discuss your specific prognosis and available therapeutic options with your physician.
The takeaway
The sustained drop in cancer deaths demonstrates that early detection and targeted treatments effectively save lives. Ask your doctor about age-appropriate screenings and confirm that your current care plan reflects the latest evidence-based guidelines.
What happens next
Congress will deliberate on the proposed 12% cut to the NIH budget for the 2027 fiscal year.
Further reading
For more on evolving standards for treatment and prevention, visit the Cancer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Forbes.
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