Cancer Survival Hits Record High of Patients Living 5 Years After Diagnosis, New Research Shows

Improved survival rates are especially evident among those diagnosed with more fatal cancers, the American Cancer Society found.

Audrey Simons

Published: 1/13/2026, 5:00:25 PM EST

Cancer Survival Hits Record High of Patients Living 5 Years After Diagnosis, New Research Shows — A doctor screens a patient's x-ray for colon cancer in a file photo. (American Cancer Society/Getty Images)

Americans who have been diagnosed with cancer are living longer than ever before, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society.

The findings, published Jan. 13 in the cancer journal CA, show that 70 percent of patients who discovered they had cancer between 2015 and 2021 lived for at least five years beyond their diagnosis.

"Seven in 10 people now survive their cancer five years or more, up from only half in the mid-70s," Rebecca Siegel, the lead author of the report, said in a press release.

"This stunning victory is largely the result of decades of cancer research that provided clinicians with the tools to treat the disease more effectively, turning many cancers from a death sentence into a chronic disease."

The improved survival rates are especially evident among those who were diagnosed with more fatal cancers, such as myeloma, liver cancer, and lung cancer, which saw increases of 30 percent, 15 percent, and 13 percent, respectively.

The survival gains mirror an overall decline in cancer death rates. An estimated 4.8 million deaths have been averted since the early 1990s, "largely because of smoking reductions, earlier detection, and improved treatment," the report indicates.

Dr. William Dahut, the American Cancer Society's chief scientific officer, said the data have shifted the focus beyond just the need for treating cancer, which is the second-leading cause of death around the world.

"With survival rates increasing, this leads us to cancer survivorship, which means addressing the physical, emotional, and financial challenges these patients can face," Dahut shared.

"We are encouraged by the number of resources to assist the millions of survivors, along with the caregivers and clinicians, but more strategies will be necessary to ensure everyone has the support needed to have not only more days, but better days."

A radiologist examines breast X-rays in France in a file image. (Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters) — A radiologist examines breast X-rays in France in a file image. Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters

Despite the milestone rates, researchers noted that new diagnoses continue to rise for certain common cancers, such as breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers, highlighting the ongoing need for prevention and early detection.

More than 2.1 million Americans are expected to be diagnosed with some type of cancer in 2026, which equates to roughly 5,800 new cases each day, the report states.

The states with the highest estimated number of cases are California at 206,500; Florida at 183,100; Texas at 161,330; and New York at 125,860.

Vermont, North Dakota, Alaska, and Wyoming are projected to have the fewest cancer cases in 2026, with each expected to have fewer than 5,000 diagnoses.

The report notes that approximately 626,140 Americans are expected to die from cancer this year.