The overall U.S. cancer death rate fell 35% between 1991 and 2024, a decline that translates into more than 4.8 million cancer deaths averted, according to the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2026. The American Association for Cancer Research released the report in mid-September, drawing on national data from the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society.
The progress is real, but it is not the whole story. Fewer people are dying of cancer relative to the size of the population, yet more people are being diagnosed each year, and adults ages 18 to 49 are the only age group with a consistent rise in overall cancer incidence. For families, the practical message is that screening and prompt care still matter, including for younger adults who may not think cancer applies to them.
