Cancer Prevention Works: New Data and Progress Against Cancer

June 2020

Explore the Latest Cancer Data

	Overall, about two-thirds of people in the United States who are diagnosed with cancer are still alive five years later. This is one of many statistics you can find in the updated Data Visualizations tool, an easy way to explore new U.S. Cancer Statistics data. U.S. Cancer Statistics are the official federal cancer statistics, providing information on the entire U.S. population.

These data can be used to find out what groups are affected most by cancer, measure progress in prevention efforts, and target actions to help improve cancer outcomes for all. They combine cancer registry data from CDC’s National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. The Data Visualizations tool is an easy way to explore the data through interactive graphics and descriptive text. It includes incidence, mortality, survival, prevalence data and more.  The public use database for researchers includes cancer incidence data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. This year, a rural-urban county variable has been added. It includes more than 28 million cases diagnosed during 17 years (2001 to 2017).

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News to Know About COVID-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Wearing a cloth face covering correctly can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others, including people with cancer or a history of cancer. When you go out on essential trips, wear a cloth face covering that fits snugly and reaches above your nose, below your chin, and completely covers your mouth and nostrils.

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Empowering Journeys Beyond Cancer

Getting through and beyond cancer is different for each person. June is Cancer Survivor’s Month, a time to honor and support people dealing with cancer now or in the past. Cancer Survivor’s Month is also a time to learn about the challenges cancer survivors face. This new blog post shares tips to help survivors cope with stress, get regular physical activity, and reach out for support. It's also important to learn how to stay healthy and lower the chance of getting cancer again.

While each person’s experience with cancer has challenges, many people who survive cancer share common views on hope, motivation, and a new approach to life after cancer. On our Cancer Survivor Stories page, people across the country share their journeys beyond cancer with words of wisdom to inform and inspire others.

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Healthy Ways to Help Men Lower Cancer Risk

National Men’s Health Week (June 15–21) raises awareness of health issues that affect men and encourages them to take better care of their health. Chronic diseases, including cancer, are some of the leading health issues that affect men. Some of the most important things you can do for better health include staying away from tobacco, limiting alcohol, keeping a healthy weight, and getting regular physical activity. These actions are good for your overall health and can help lower your chance of getting cancer.

Find ways to make healthy choices a part of your daily life. CDC’s resources for quitting smoking and physical activity tips can help you get started. Learn more about cancer and men.

Cancer and Men

Prevention, Not Just Treatment for Breast Cancer

"In some ways, the chance of getting breast cancer is like a game of bingo, with each of the many things that contribute to breast cancer, so-called risk factors, a square with a number on the card," says CDC’s Dr. Mary White in this new blog post. Many factors and different life experiences can contribute to a woman’s chance of getting breast cancer. Research shows that a combination of genes, environmental exposures, and behaviors over many years contributes to most breast cancers.

Dr. White highlights the California Breast Cancer Primary Prevention Plan, a first-of-its-kind plan with a new approach to tackle breast cancer as a disease to be prevented, not just found and treated.

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Research Spotlight

Staying at One’s Job to Maintain Employer-Based Health Insurance Job Lock Among Cancer Survivors and Their Spouses/Partners looks at how the inability to leave a job due to limitations on health insurance portability affects the careers and well-being of cancer survivors and their spouses or partners.

Did You Know? Cancer death rates dropped 26% over 20 years, between 1999 and 2018. Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death, has shown a 37% decrease in death rates from 1999 to 2018.