In 2021, the death rate for leukemia among youth in the United States aged 0 to 19 years was .48 per 100,000 youth. This was a decrease from the death rate of 0.9 per 100,000 recorded in the year 2001. This statistic shows the cancer death rates for the three most common types of cancer among youth aged 0 to 19 years in the United States in 2001, 2011, and 2021.

Cancer was responsible for around 142 deaths per 100,000 population in the United States in 2022. The death rate for cancer has steadily decreased since the 1990’s, but cancer still remains the second leading cause of death in the United States. The deadliest type of cancer for both men and women is cancer of the lung and bronchus which will account for an estimated 65,790 deaths among men alone in 2024. Probability of surviving Survival rates for cancer vary significantly depending on the type of cancer. The cancers with the highest rates of survival include cancers of the thyroid, prostate, and testis, with five-year survival rates as high as 99 percent for thyroid cancer. The cancers with the lowest five-year survival rates include cancers of the pancreas, liver, and esophagus. Risk factors It is difficult to determine why one person develops cancer while another does not, but certain risk factors have been shown to increase a person’s chance of developing cancer. For example, cigarette smoking has been proven to increase the risk of developing various cancers. In fact, around 81 percent of cancers of the lung, bronchus and trachea among adults aged 30 years and older can be attributed to cigarette smoking. A recent poll indicated that many U.S. adults believed smoking cigarettes and using other tobacco products increased a person’s risk of developing cancer, but a much smaller percentage believed the same for proven risk factors such as obesity and drinking alcohol.

In 2022, there were an estimated 2.48 million new cases of trachea, bronchus, and lung cancer worldwide. Breast cancer was the second most common cancer type at that time with around 2.3 million new cases worldwide.

Number of new cancer cases

Cancer can be caused by internal factors like genetics and mutations, as well as external factors such as smoking and radiation. It occurs in the presence of uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. However, many cancer cases could be prevented, for example, by omitting cigarette usage and heavy alcohol consumption. Risk of developing cancer tends to increase with age and is most common in older adults. Nevertheless, cancer can develop in individuals of any age. Cancer can be treated through surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, among other methods.

In the United States, there will be an estimated two million new cancer cases and 611,720 deaths in 2024. Among U.S. men, prostate cancer and lung and bronchus cancers are the most common cancer types as of 2024, totaling an estimated 299,010 and 116,310 cases, respectively. In women, breast cancer and lung and bronchus cancer are the most common newly diagnosed types, totaling 310,720 and 118,270 cases, respectively.

The rate of liver cancer diagnoses in the United States increases with age. As of 2021, those aged 75 to 79 years had the highest rates of liver cancer. Risk factors for liver cancer include smoking, drinking alcohol, being overweight or obese, and having diabetes. Who is most likely to get liver cancer? Liver cancer in the United States is much more common among men than women. In 2021, there were 12.3 new liver cancer diagnoses among men per 100,000 population, compared to just five new diagnoses per 100,000 women. Concerning race and ethnicity, non-Hispanic American Indians and Alaska Natives and Hispanic have the highest rates of new liver cancer diagnoses. The five-year survival rate for liver cancer in the United States is around 22 percent, however, this rate is much higher among non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islanders than other races and ethnicities. Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islanders have a 33 percent chance of surviving the next five years after a liver cancer diagnosis. Deaths from liver cancer In 2020, there were an estimated 20,262 deaths in the United States due to liver cancer. However, the death rate for liver cancer has decreased over the past few years. In the period 1999 to 2020, the death rate for liver cancer reached a high of five deaths per 100,000 population in 2015 but dropped to 4.6 deaths per 100,000 population by 2020. It is estimated that in 2024, there will be over 19,000 liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer deaths among men in the United States and 10,700 such deaths among women.

Between 2017 and 2021, female breast cancer was the type of alcohol-associated cancer with the highest incidence in the United States, with a rate of nearly 130 per 100,000 people. This graph shows the rate of alcohol-related cancers per 100,000 people from 2017 to 2021 in the United States, by cancer type.

The cancer type with the highest prevalence rate in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2022 was breast cancer, with 213.1 cases per 100,000 population. This was followed by prostate cancer and colorectal cancer, with prevalence rates of 175.8 and 61.3 cases per 100,000 population, respectively. That year, breast and prostate cancer were also the two cancer types with the highest mortality rates in the region. Regional variations in cancer prevalence While breast cancer has a higher prevalence rate in Latin America overall, individual countries show distinct patterns. Uruguay stands out with the highest age-standardized cancer prevalence rates in Latin America and the Caribbean for both men and women, at 1,331.5 and 1,301.6 cases per 100,000 population as of 2022, followed by Barbados, Cuba, and Argentina. When it comes to differences between genders, while some countries like Chile and Cuba show higher rates among men, most nations in the region report higher prevalence rates among women.
Medical equipment for diagnosis and treatment Like prevalence rates, the availability of specialized medical equipment used for cancer diagnosis and treatment in Latin American hospitals varies from country to country and from technology to technology. As of 2023, while one in four hospitals in the region had CT scanners, only one percent had robotic surgery systems. When it comes to basic equipment, ECG and ultrasound machines are the most common type of equipment found in Latin American hospitals.

As of 2021, non-Hispanic white people in the United States had the highest incidence rates of skin cancer among all races and ethnicities. Skin cancer is one of the most commonly occurring cancers in the world. Furthermore, the United States is among the countries with the highest rates of skin cancer worldwide. Skin cancer in the U.S. There are a few different types of skin cancer and some are more deadly than others. Basal and squamous skin cancers are more common and less dangerous than melanomas. Among U.S. residents, skin cancer has been demonstrated to be more prevalent among men than women. Skin cancer is also more prevalent among older adults. With treatment and early detection, skin cancers have a high survival rate. Fortunately, in recent years the U.S. has seen a reduction in the rate of death from melanoma. Skin cancer prevention Avoiding and protecting exposed skin from the sun (and other sources of UV light) is the primary means of preventing skin cancer. However, a survey of U.S. adults from 2024 found that around a third never used sunscreen.

In 2022, prostate cancer was the most common type of cancer among newly diagnosed patients in Peru, with approximately 8,600 new cases reported. Breast cancer ranked second, with close to 7,800 new cases. As of 2023, Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins was the hospital with the most oncology equipment for cancer treatment in Peru.

Between 2017 and 2021, postmenopausal breast cancer was the type of obesity-associated cancer with the highest incidence in the United States, with a rate of approximately 348 per 100,000 people. This graph shows the rate of obesity-related cancers per 100,000 people from 2017 to 2021 in the United States, by cancer type.

In 2021, Kentucky reported the highest cancer incidence rate in the United States, with around 510 new cases of cancer per 100,000 inhabitants. This statistic represents the U.S. states with the highest cancer incidence rates per 100,000 population in 2021.

It is estimated that around 280,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Spain during 2023, of which 160,000 are expected in men and 120,000 in women. Breast cancer is expected to be the type with the highest incidence in the country, with more than 35,000 new cases estimated for 2023, followed by lung and prostate cancer with 31,282 and 29,002 cases, respectively.

Cancer-related deaths

In 2021, cancer was responsible for approximately 114,000 deaths in Spain. Lung and bronchial cancer caused the highest number of cancer deaths in the country, accounting for approximately 22,400 terminal cases. In fact, it was the fourth main cause of death overall, only after COVID-19, coronary artery disease (CAD), and cerebrovascular disease. Lung cancer is highly associated with smoking and is therefore among the most preventable diseases.

Most common types of cancer worldwide

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the world. In 2020, around a quarter of all new cancer cases within this group was attributed to breast cancer. Colorectum and lung cancer followed, accounting for 9.4 and 8.4 percent of all new cancer cases among women that year, respectively. In comparison, lung cancer was the most common type of cancer among men, with a share of 14.3 percent. Prostate cancer followed closely, with 14.1 percent.

It was estimated that in 2025 around 313,780 men in the United States would develop prostate cancer. This statistic depicts the estimated number of new cancer cases among men in the U.S. in 2009 and 2025, by cancer type.

In 2025, it is estimated that 69,120 women in the United States would develop uterine cancer. This statistic depicts the estimated number of new cancer cases among women in the U.S. in 2009 and 2025, by cancer type.

In 2021, Utah had the highest rate of skin cancer, with an estimated 46 people out of 100,000 diagnosed with melanoma or another non-epithelial skin cancer. This statistic shows the incidence rate of skin cancer in the U.S. in 2021, by state, per 100,000 population.

The rate of skin cancer in the United States increased for both sexes from 1999 to 2021, with the rate for males consistently higher than that of females. This statistic shows the incidence rate of skin cancer in the U.S. from 1999 to 2021, by gender, per 100,000 population.

In the United States, the leading causes of death among women are heart disease and cancer. Heart disease and cancer are similarly the leading causes of death among U.S. men. In 2022, heart disease accounted for 20.3 percent of all deaths among women in the United States, while cancer accounted for 18.5 percent of deaths. COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death among both men and women in 2020 and 2021, and the fourth leading cause in 2022. Cancer among women in the U.S. The most common types of cancer among U.S. women are breast, lung and bronchus, and colon and rectum. In 2024, there were around 310,720 new breast cancer cases among women, compared to 118,270 new cases of lung and bronchus cancer. Although breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women in the United States, lung and bronchus cancer causes the highest number of cancer deaths. In 2024, around 59,280 women were expected to die from lung and bronchus cancer, compared to 42,250 from breast cancer. Breast cancer Although breast cancer is the second most deadly form of cancer among women, rates of death have decreased over the past few decades. This decrease is possibly due to early detection, progress in therapy, and increasing awareness of risk factors. In 2022, the death rate due to breast cancer was 18.7 per 100,000 population, compared to a rate of 33.3 per 100,000 in the year 1990. The state with the highest rate of deaths due to breast cancer is Delaware, while Massachusetts had the lowest rates. Massachusetts is also one of the states with the highest share of women receiving a breast cancer screening in the last two years.

In the period from 2019 to 2021, around 65 percent of heterosexual and lesbian women in the United States reported following breast cancer screening guidelines from the American Cancer Society. This means receiving a mammogram within the past year for women aged 45 to 54 years, and in the past two years for those aged 55 years and older. Screening for cancer involves checking the body for cancer before symptoms show, with the CDC supporting cancer screening for breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancers. Prostate cancer screenings Prostate cancer screening rates in the United States were lower compared to other cancers in 2019-2021. At that time, only 37 percent of heterosexual men aged 50 years and older who had not been diagnosed with prostate cancer reported having a prostate specific antigen test within the past year. This rate was higher among gay men with 44 percent, but lower among bisexual men with just 25 percent. Prostate cancer is by far the most common cancer type among men, with an estimated 299,010 new cases in 2024. Fortunately, survival rates for prostate cancer are high, with around 98 percent of men surviving five years after diagnosis. However, the chances of survival increase the sooner the cancer is discovered, highlighting the importance of screening. Colorectal screenings The United States Preventative Services Task Force recommends colorectal cancer screenings for adults aged 45 to 75, and the decision for screenings for those aged 76 to 85 to be made on an individual basis. In 2022, the states with the highest colon cancer screening rates among those aged 50 to 75 years were Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Wyoming and New Mexico had the lowest colon cancer screening rates at that time, with just 64 percent. Colorectal cancer is one of the deadliest cancer types in the United States, causing an estimated 28,700 deaths among men in 2024, and 24,310 among women.

In 2022, cancer caused more than 2.5 million deaths in China, making it one of the major causes of death in the country. Lung cancer was by far the most lethal type of cancer, killing more than 733,000 patients. Other dangerous types include liver, stomach, and oesophageal cancers. Breast cancer, although the sixth most common cancer in terms of new cases, was relatively less deadly than many other types, with less than 75,000 victims.

The burden of cancer in China The high prevalence of cancer carries heavy burdens for patients, their families, and China's healthcare providers. As a group of serious chronic conditions, some cancers are characterized by their low cure rates and increased risks of relapse. At the same time, cancer treatments often require advanced medical resources, usually only found in tier-three general hospitals or specialist cancer institutions. Expensive targeted drugs and imported pharmaceuticals are often necessary to treat cancer patients, thus imposing financial burdens on the patients and their families. Due to the continuous improvement of China's medical insurance system, the financial burden inflicted by cancer has been significantly reduced in many regions.

Challenges to reducing cancer rates
In China, reducing the prevalence of cancer has proven particularly challenging. The incidence of lung cancer remains very high in the country, primarily attributed to high smoking rates and air pollution. At the same time, some dietary habits unique to China, including the preference for consuming very hot water and dishes, have also contributed significantly to the high rates of stomach and oesophageal cancers.

The rate of breast cancer deaths in the U.S. has dramatically declined since 1950. As of 2022, the death rate from breast cancer had dropped from 31.9 to 18.7 per 100,000 population. Cancer is a serious public health issue in the United States. As of 2021, cancer is the second leading cause of death among women. Breast cancer incidence Breast cancer symptoms include lumps or thickening of the breast tissue and may include changes to the skin. Breast cancer is driven by many factors, but age is a known risk factor. Among all age groups, the highest number of invasive breast cancer cases were among those aged 60 to 69. The incidence rate of new breast cancer cases is higher in some ethnicities than others. White, non-Hispanic women had the highest incidence rate of breast cancer, followed by non-Hispanic Black women. Breast cancer treatment Breast cancer treatments usually involve several methods, including surgery, chemotherapy and biological therapy. Types of cancer diagnosed at earlier stages often require fewer treatments. A majority of the early stage breast cancer cases in the U.S. receive breast conserving surgery and radiation therapy.

In 2021, there were around 158 new cases of breast cancer per 100,000 population in the state of Connecticut, making it the state with the highest breast cancer incidence rate that year. This statistic shows the incidence rate of breast cancer in the U.S. in 2021, by state.