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Cancer Death Rates Declining in the US, But Some Types Still Rising, Report Shows
A comprehensive annual report reveals that fatalities from the majority of cancer types are decreasing across the United States. However, the study also highlights an alarming trend: mortality rates for several specific forms of this disease are still on the rise. Key concerns involve melanoma and other skin cancers, as well as cancers of the mouth, pharynx, bones, joints, pancreas, uterus, and liver. This detailed analysis of cancer death rates and trends in the US offers crucial insights into the ongoing battle against this deadly group of diseases.
Overall Cancer Mortality Shows Downward Trend
The latest report from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Heart Association (AHA) indicates a consistent decline in overall cancer deaths over the past two decades. This positive trend continued even through the COVID-19 pandemic, with annual reductions of 1.7 percent for men and 1.3 percent for women between 2018 and 2022.
While overall cancer incidence in men remained stable from 2013 to 2021 (excluding the anomalous year of 2020), cancer incidence for women gradually increased by approximately 0.3 percent annually from 2003 to 2021.
Cancer death rates among children have seen a steady decrease, and rates for teenagers and young adults have also fallen. Despite this progress, the pace of improvement has recently slowed. Advancements in cancer treatment, early detection methods, and supportive care are major contributors to improved survival rates.
Rising Fatalities in Specific Cancer Types
Despite the overall encouraging trend, deaths from certain cancers are increasing. These include:
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- Melanoma and other skin cancers
- Mouth and pharynx cancers
- Bone and joint cancers
- Pancreatic cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Liver cancer
Factors Contributing to Increased Death Rates
Experts attribute these increases to several contributing factors:
- Elevated Obesity Rates: Obesity is linked to chronic inflammation and hormone imbalances, which can promote the development of pancreatic, uterine, and liver cancers, as well as delayed or complex diagnoses.
- Aging Population: Older individuals are more susceptible to cancers like bone, pancreas, and liver cancer because their cells have had more time to accumulate DNA damage and their immune systems are less effective at fighting disease.
- Limited Access to Early Detection: Lack of access to tools for early cancer detection affects nearly all cancer types, particularly oral and skin cancers. These cancers can often be overlooked or misdiagnosed until later stages when treatment becomes more challenging, leading to higher mortality rates.
Subtle Symptoms and the Importance of Early Detection
For the cancers with rising mortality rates, symptoms frequently emerge gradually, which may delay individuals from seeking prompt medical attention.
Recognizing Potential Cancer Symptoms
- Melanoma (Skin Cancer): Look for new or changing moles that may display alterations in size, shape, or color, and could also itch, bleed, or fail to heal.
- Oral and Pharyngeal Cancers: Be aware of persistent sores in the mouth, difficulty swallowing, unexplained hoarseness, or unusual lumps in the mouth or neck area.
- Bone and Joint Cancers: Monitor for increasing pain in bones or joints (particularly at night), swelling, or fractures that occur without significant trauma.
- Pancreatic Cancer: Symptoms can include pain in the upper abdomen, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), digestive problems, unexplained weight loss, and nausea.
- Liver and Bile Duct Cancers: Jaundice, pain in the upper right abdomen, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and swelling can be indicative of these cancers.
- Uterine Cancer: Abnormal vaginal bleeding or persistent pelvic pressure are key warning signs.
While these symptoms can arise from other health issues, persistent or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a medical professional immediately for appropriate diagnosis and care.
Analyzing Cancer Trends and the Impact of COVID-19
The Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer tracks new cancer diagnoses, deaths, and trends across the US, utilizing data from the NIH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.
Researchers utilized CDC programs and US Census data to account for demographic changes and to assess the impact of COVID-19, focusing on how the pandemic disrupted early cancer detection efforts.
Analysis of monthly trends in eight cancer types, primarily those typically identified through screenings or routine medical care, across various registries was conducted.
At the state level, researchers examined the potential links between cancer rates and state-level pandemic responses. They considered three specific factors: the stringency of COVID-19 restrictions, COVID-19 mortality rates, and changes in mammogram utilization rates between 2018 and 2020.
States with stricter COVID-19 policies, such as mask mandates and school closures, experienced more significant declines in cancer incidence, particularly for cancers like breast and thyroid cancer.
However, these differences were generally minor.
While some correlation existed between the strictness of COVID-19 restrictions and reductions in cancer incidence, this geographical element did not fully explain the overall decline.
Other variables, including COVID-19 death rates and shifts in mammography usage, were examined but did not reveal a notable effect on the national decline in cancer incidence at the state level.
Specific Cancer Death Rate Increases by Type and Gender
The report detailed specific cancer types showing increased death rates between 2018 and 2022:
- Men: Increased death rates were observed for cancers of the pancreas (0.3 percent annually), bones and joints (1.8 percent), oral cavity and pharynx (2.1 percent), and non-melanoma skin cancer (2.4 percent).
- Women: Increased death rates were seen in cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx (1.1 percent), corpus and uterus (1.1 percent), liver and intrahepatic bile duct (0.7 percent), and pancreas (0.2 percent).
Lung Cancer Decline Drives Overall Progress
The overall improvement in reducing cancer deaths is largely attributed to reductions in both the incidence and death rates of lung cancer, as well as several other cancers associated with smoking, according to the NIH.
New diagnoses and fatalities from lung cancer have decreased for both men and women over the past two decades.
The report does not specify the exact reasons for the increased death rates in certain cancers, but these trends are likely related to a combination of factors such as delays in early detection, limited advancements in effective treatments, or the inherently aggressive nature of these specific cancers.
Notably, tobacco use remains a major contributing factor to oral cancer, while dietary habits and obesity are well-established risk factors for various forms of cancer.
Pediatric Cancer Trends
From 2001 to 2022, the cancer death rate for children aged newborn to 14 years decreased by 1.5 percent per year.
Death rates for adolescents and young adults also decreased until recently, when this decline slowed and stabilized, the NIH stated.
The childhood cancer incidence rate began to decrease by 0.8 percent annually starting in 2015, after a period of increase at 1.3 percent per year since 2003.
Significant progress in pediatric cancer care, including chemotherapy, surgical interventions, and targeted immunotherapies, has contributed to increased survival rates.
Impact of Pandemic on Cancer Diagnoses
In 2020, the rate of new cancer diagnoses was approximately eight percent lower than anticipated. This reduction can be attributed to pandemic-related disruptions in healthcare services, which impacted routine screenings, doctor appointments, and overall access to healthcare.
Cancer death rates generally continued to decrease during the period of 2018–2022, with average annual reductions of 1.7 percent for men and 1.3 percent for women.
However, the pandemic may have influenced this trend, particularly in 2020. It is plausible that diagnostic delays during this period led to cancers being detected at later, more advanced stages, potentially affecting treatment outcomes and survival rates.
Researchers have confirmed that the decline in diagnoses in 2020 was a real and significant finding, not an artifact of data issues or reporting delays.
Similar to trends in men, the death rate from lung and bronchus cancer in women exhibited the most rapid decline, with an average annual decrease of 3.4 percent from 2018 to 2022.
Researchers also reported that the overall rate of cancer cases in the US across the four-year study period was roughly 461 per 100,000 individuals, with men exhibiting higher rates than women. Cancer incidence rates among men declined from 2001 to 2013 and then stabilized through 2021.
Between 2001 and 2013, cancer incidence rates in men decreased by approximately 1.6% to 2.2% each year, and then remained stable through 2021. In contrast, cancer incidence rates in women did not decrease, but actually rose slightly, increasing by about 0.3% per year from 2003 to 2021.
Among women, incidence rates have gradually increased since 2003, particularly for eight of the most common cancers, including breast, uterine, pancreatic, and stomach cancers. Stomach cancer experienced the most pronounced increase, especially among Black women.
In men, incidence rates increased for prostate, pancreas, and testicular cancers, but decreased for lung, brain, and colorectal cancers.
Prostate cancer showed the most substantial increase in incidence, particularly among Asian/Pacific Islander (API) men, while lung cancer saw the most significant decrease.
American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations had the highest overall cancer incidence rates, followed by White and Black populations.
Asian/Pacific Islander (API) populations exhibited the lowest cancer incidence rates.
‘From 2018 to 2022, cancer deaths decreased for each major racial and ethnic population group,’ the NIH stated.
Know the Signs of Deadly Cancers
Leading deadly cancers and their symptoms include:
Melanoma (Skin Cancer)
- New or changing mole (size, shape, color)
- Itching, bleeding, or non-healing
Oral Cavity & Pharynx Cancer
- Persistent mouth sore or pain
- Trouble swallowing or hoarseness
- Lump in mouth or neck
Bone & Joint Cancer
- Bone or joint pain (often worse at night)
- Swelling or a lump
- Easy fractures
Pancreatic Cancer
- Jaundice (yellow skin/eyes)
- Weight loss, nausea, greasy stools
Uterine (Corpus) Cancer
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Liver & Bile Duct Cancer
- Upper-right abdominal pain
- Swelling, weight loss, fatigue