Objective:

To analyze trends in cancer incidence and mortality, with a focus on lung cancer outcomes in the U.S.

Approach:

• Data Sources: Population-based cancer incidence data from registries funded by the CDC and/or NCI, and mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics.
• Analysis Period: Evaluation of data from 2000 to 2025, focusing on age-standardized rates and trends by cancer type, sex, race, ethnicity, and age.

Key Findings:

• Overall cancer mortality declined 1.6% per year among males and 1.1% per year among females from 2019 to 2023.
• Lung cancer mortality decreased 52% among males, from 70.3 to 34 deaths per 100,000, and 37% among females, from 41 to 25.7 deaths per 100,000, from 2004 to 2023.
• Lung cancer incidence decreased by 38% among males, from 88.7 to 55.2 cases per 100,000, and 15% among females, from 55.8 to 47.7 cases per 100,000, from 2003 to 2022.
• Five-year relative survival for lung cancer doubled from 15% in 2000 to 30% in 2018.
• Overall cancer incidence increased an average of 0.2% per year from 2018 to 2022, particularly among females.

Interpretation:

The report indicates progress in lung cancer outcomes, with declines in mortality rates, while overall cancer incidence trends varied by sex and cancer type.

Limitations:

• Potential influence of the 20-year analytic period on trend selection.
• Incomplete or inaccurate recording of race or Hispanic origin may affect subgroup findings.
• Wide confidence intervals for some subgroup estimates due to small sample sizes.
• Changes in cancer classification over time may affect trends.

Conclusion:

Sustained declines in cancer mortality are attributed to advancements in lung cancer prevention and control, despite increasing overall cancer incidence among females.

Sources:

• Cancer