The number of new cancer diagnoses in the United States

About 1.9 million people receive a cancer diagnosis each year in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. This number has stayed relatively stable over the past decade, though it varies slightly from year to year depending on screening rates, population changes, and how diagnoses are counted.

The actual number of diagnoses reported can shift based on which cancers are included in the count. Some reports focus only on invasive cancers (those that have spread beyond the original site), while others include non-invasive cancers like certain skin cancers. The 1.9 million figure typically refers to invasive cancers and carcinomas in situ, which are early-stage cancers that have not yet invaded surrounding tissue.

Key Takeaways

  • Approximately 1.9 million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each year, though this number varies slightly annually.
  • Breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers account for about half of all new cancer diagnoses in the country.
  • Cancer diagnosis rates differ by age, sex, race, and geographic location, reflecting differences in screening access and other risk factors.
  • The number of people living with a cancer diagnosis has grown significantly because survival rates have improved over the past 30 years.

Which cancers are diagnosed most often

Four cancers make up roughly half of all new diagnoses: breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer overall, followed by lung cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, while breast cancer is the most common in women.

Beyond these four, melanoma (a type of skin cancer), thyroid cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma round out the top cancers by frequency. The ranking of which cancers are most common can shift slightly from year to year, and it differs between men and women. For example, ovarian cancer appears in the top ten for women but does not apply to men, while prostate cancer is specific to men.

How diagnosis rates differ by age and sex

Cancer diagnosis rates rise sharply with age. Most cancers are diagnosed in people over 65, and the average age at diagnosis is around 66 years old. Children and young adults do get cancer, but it is far less common—childhood cancers account for less than 2 percent of all cancer diagnoses.

Men and women have different cancer diagnosis rates overall. Men are diagnosed with cancer at a slightly higher rate than women, and the types of cancer differ. Men face higher rates of lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers, while women face higher rates of breast cancer. Some cancers, like cervical cancer, occur almost exclusively in women, while others like testicular cancer occur only in men.

Differences across racial and ethnic groups

Cancer diagnosis rates and survival rates vary across racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Black Americans have higher diagnosis rates for several cancers, including prostate cancer and colorectal cancer, and also face lower survival rates for many cancer types. These differences reflect a combination of factors: unequal access to screening and early detection, differences in underlying health conditions, and disparities in treatment access and quality.

Hispanic and Latino Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans each have different patterns of cancer diagnosis and outcomes. Some of these differences relate to specific risk factors—for example, hepatitis B infection is more common in some Asian American communities and increases liver cancer risk. Others reflect historical and ongoing inequities in healthcare access. Understanding these patterns is important for public health efforts aimed at prevention and early detection.

How many people are living with cancer

The number of people living with a cancer diagnosis in the United States is much larger than the annual number of new diagnoses. Currently, there are roughly 18 million people alive who have been diagnosed with cancer at some point. This number has grown significantly over the past 30 years, even though diagnosis rates have remained relatively stable, because more people are surviving their cancer.

This growing population of cancer survivors includes people who are currently in treatment, people who have finished treatment and are in remission, and people living with advanced cancer. Some of these individuals were diagnosed decades ago, while others received their diagnosis recently. The length of survival after diagnosis varies widely depending on the type of cancer, how early it was caught, and the person's overall health.

Why the numbers matter for planning and research

Cancer diagnosis statistics help doctors, researchers, and public health officials understand which cancers affect the most people and where prevention and screening efforts should focus. When certain cancers show rising diagnosis rates, researchers investigate whether the increase reflects more screening, a true increase in disease, or changes in how cases are counted. These numbers also guide funding decisions for research and treatment programs.

Tracking diagnosis rates over time also reveals whether prevention efforts are working. For example, lung cancer diagnosis rates have declined in recent decades as smoking rates have fallen. Colorectal cancer diagnosis rates have declined in older adults due to increased screening with colonoscopy. These trends show that both prevention and early detection can shift the overall burden of cancer in a population.

How diagnosis numbers are collected and reported

Cancer diagnosis statistics in the United States come from several sources. The National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program collects detailed information from cancer registries across the country. State cancer registries report cases to the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR), which is run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Together, these systems capture information on nearly all cancer diagnoses in the country.

When a person is diagnosed with cancer, the hospital or clinic reports the diagnosis to the state cancer registry, which includes details like the type of cancer, the stage at diagnosis, and the person's age and sex. This information is then compiled into national statistics. There is usually a delay of one to two years before final numbers are published, because it takes time to collect and verify all the reports from across the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the number of cancer diagnoses include skin cancer?

Most national statistics report invasive cancers and do not include non-melanoma skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, because these are extremely common and rarely life-threatening. Melanoma, which is more serious, is included in the count. If non-melanoma skin cancers were included, the total number of cancer diagnoses would be much higher.

Are cancer diagnosis rates going up or down?

Overall cancer diagnosis rates have remained relatively stable over the past 10 to 15 years. However, some specific cancers are increasing—for example, certain types of thyroid cancer and liver cancer—while others are declining, such as lung cancer and colorectal cancer in older adults. The trend depends on which cancer you are looking at.

Why do more men get cancer than women?

Men have higher overall cancer diagnosis rates, partly because men have historically had higher smoking rates, which increases lung cancer risk. Men also face higher rates of prostate cancer, which is specific to men. Some of the difference also reflects that men may be less likely to seek preventive screening and healthcare compared to women.

How do cancer diagnosis rates in the US compare to other countries?

The United States has higher cancer diagnosis rates than many other countries, which reflects both higher screening rates and higher rates of certain risk factors like obesity. Countries with strong screening programs for breast and colorectal cancer tend to have higher diagnosis rates because more cancers are detected. This does not necessarily mean cancer is more common in the US—it can also mean more cases are being found.

If more people are being diagnosed, does that mean cancer is becoming more common?

Not necessarily. The number of people living with cancer has grown largely because survival has improved, not because cancer is becoming more common. Better treatments, earlier detection through screening, and advances in care mean that more people diagnosed with cancer are living longer. The annual number of new diagnoses has remained relatively stable.