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US Cancer Survival Hits Record Highs
13 Jan
Summary
- Over 70% of US cancer patients now survive at least five years post-diagnosis.
- Significant survival gains seen for myeloma, liver, and lung cancers.
- Funding cuts to NIH cancer research pose a threat to future breakthroughs.
Cancer survival rates in the United States have reached their highest point since the 1970s, with at least 70 percent of patients now surviving for five years or more following their diagnosis. This remarkable achievement is a testament to decades of progress in cancer research, which has equipped clinicians with more effective treatment tools.
Survival gains are particularly notable for aggressive cancers. For instance, myeloma survival has risen from 32 percent to 62 percent since the mid-1990s. Liver cancer survival rates have jumped from 7 percent to 22 percent, and lung cancer survival has improved from 15 percent to 28 percent in the same period.
Despite these successes, concerns are rising regarding potential threats to research funding, particularly at the National Institutes of Health. Experts warn that reduced funding could stall future breakthroughs and potentially reverse the hard-won progress in combating cancer.
