Cancer is the second-leading cause of adult deaths in the U.S., followed by heart disease. Andrew Nish, MD,\u00a0John Stoddard Cancer Center\u00a0Medical Director, helps us understand the most dangerous cancers as outlined by the\u00a0American Cancer Society\u2019s 2024 annual Facts & Figures report.\n

NOTE: The numbers don\u2019t include basal cell (most common skin cancer) and squamous cell (second most common skin cancer) skin cancers, since they\u2019re not regularly reported to cancer registries.\n

Top 2025 Cancer Statistics\n

Cancer statistics for 2024 have increased since last year.\n

A little more than 2 million new cancer cases are expected in 2024\n
611,720 Americans are expected to die from cancer in 2024\n
1 in 3\u00a0women will develop cancer in their lifetime\n
1 in 2\u00a0men will develop cancer in their lifetime\n\n
Five Most Dangerous Cancers in Men\n
$\"Cancers$ \n
\n
These five cancers are predicted to take nearly 322,800\u00a0male lives in a year.\n
\n
1. Lung & Bronchus\u00a0\u2013 65,790 male deaths\n
2. Prostate\u00a0\u2013 35,250 male deaths\n
3. Colon & Rectum\u00a0\u2013 28,700 male deaths\n
4. Pancreas \u2013 27,270 male deaths\n
5. Liver & Intrahepatic Bile Duct \u2013 19,120 male deaths\n\n
  Cancer Deaths in Men by Percent\n
  \n
  20% \u2013 Lung & Bronchus\n
  11% \u2013 Prostate\n
  9% \u2013 Colon & Rectum\n
  8% \u2013 Pancreas\n
  6% \u2013 Liver\n
  4% \u2013 Leukemia\n
  4% \u2013 Esophagus\n
  4% \u2013 Bladder\n
  4% \u2013 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma\n
  4% \u2013 Brain & Nervous System\n\n
  Five Most Dangerous Cancers in Women\n
  $\"India$ \n
  These five cancers are predicted to take nearly 288,920\u00a0female lives in a year.\u00a0While increases and decreases in specific cancer deaths vary compared to last year, overall, this number is substantially larger than what was reported in 2023.\n
  \n
  Lung & Bronchus\u00a0\u2013 59,280 female deaths\n
  Breast\u00a0\u2013 42,250 female deaths\n
  Colon & Rectum\u00a0\u2013 24,310 female deaths\n
  Pancreas \u2013 24,480 female deaths\n
  Ovary \u2013 12,740 female deaths\n\n
  Cancer Deaths in Females by Percent\n
  \n
  21% \u2013 Lung & Bronchus\n
  15% \u2013 Breast\n
  8% \u2013 Colon & Rectum\n
  8% \u2013 Pancreas\n
  5% \u2013 Uterine\n
  4% \u2013 Ovary\n
  4% \u2013 Liver\n
  3% \u2013 Leukemia\n
  3% \u2013 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma\n
  3% \u2013 Brain & Nervous System\n\n
  Why is Lung Cancer the Most Common?\n
  Even though\u00a0lung cancer\u00a0is the deadliest cancer for men and women, the rates are declining in the U.S. Experts contribute the drop to fewer smokers and improvements in treatments for non-small cell lung cancer.\n
  \u201cCigarette smoke is by far the highest cause of lung cancer in the U.S., but exposure to other environmental factors could also increase your risk. Radon gas, which is naturally occurring in the soil and can collect in indoor spaces, is the second leading\u00a0cause of lung cancer, accounting for an estimated 21,000 deaths per year. Secondhand smoke, asbestos, radiation, air pollution and diesel exhaust are other contributing factors,\u201d Dr. Nish says.\n
  $\"279,100+$ \n
  Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer\n
  \n
  Persistent cough\n
  Sputum (saliva mixed with mucus) streaked with blood\n
  Chest pain\n
  Hoarse voice\n
  Worsening\u00a0shortness of breath\n
  Recurrent pneumonia or\u00a0bronchitis\n\n
  \u201cThese signs and symptoms of lung cancer don\u2019t usually appear until the cancer is more advanced. Early detection is very important, so talk to your doctor about screenings available to you,\u201d Dr. Nish says.\n
  Why is Colon Cancer on the Rise in Younger People?\n
  $\"279,100+$ \n
  Colorectal cancer\u00a0has generally declined since the early 1990s for those 50 and older due to more people following\u00a0colonoscopy screening\u00a0guidelines. However, colon cancer cases are rising in younger people. While the exact cause is unknown, lifestyle risk factors include highly processed diets, environmental toxins, heavy alcohol use, lack of exercise, obesity and smoking.\n
  \u201cMost colorectal cancer diagnosed in adults younger than 50 are called \u2018sporadic,\u2019 meaning they don\u2019t have a genetic or family risk, and they aren\u2019t associated with a pre-existing condition such as\u00a0inflammatory bowel disease. There is some research underway to understand the composition of the gut microbiome, or the trillions of bacteria in your gut, and how it may impact your risk for colon cancer,\u201d Dr. Nish says.\n
  Screening is recommended starting at 45 years old. These high-risk factors mean you should get screened sooner:\n
  \n
  Type 2 diabetes\n
  Inflammatory bowel disease\n
  Family or personal history of colon cancer or polyps\n
  Lynch syndrome\n
  Of American Indian, Alaska Native or Ashkenazi Jew racial or ethnic groups\n\n
  $\"Colon$ \n
  Signs and Symptoms of Colon Cancer:\n
  \n
  Rectal bleeding\n
  Blood in stool\n
  Change in bowel habits or stool shape (stool that becomes narrower)\n
  Feeling like the bowel doesn\u2019t completely empty\n
  Abdominal cramping or pain\n
  Decreased appetite\n
  Weight loss\n
  Weakness and\u00a0fatigue\n\n
  Due to the increase of cases in younger adults, it\u2019s important to check in with your primary care provider if you notice any of these symptoms.\n
  Most Dangerous Cancers Explained\n
  Lung & Bronchus
  \nLung and bronchial cancer causes more deaths in the U.S. than any other type of cancer in both men and women. Although survival rates have increased over the years due to improved treatments, the outlook is still bleak. The five-year survival rate is only 22%.\n
  Breast
  \nThe\u00a0breast cancer\u00a0death rate among women peaked in 1989. The drop is attributed to increase use of breast cancer screenings that improve early detection and survival rates. The five-year survival rate is 90% and the 10-year survival rate is 84%. While survival has improved, healthcare inequities are still an issue. For example, the survival rate is 10% lower for Black women than for white women.\n
  Prostate
  \nProstate cancer\u00a0is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in men. Survival rates are directly associated with early detection, so men should follow their doctor\u2019s screening advice. The five-year survival rate in men who are diagnosed early is nearly 100%. The incidence of prostate cancer is 73% higher in Black men than White men for unknown reasons. Besides age and family history of disease, African ancestry is a leading risk factor for prostate cancer.\n
  Colon & Rectum
  \nThe third most common cancer in men and women,\u00a0colon and rectal cancer\u00a0cases begin as clumps of benign cells, called polyps. Over time, these cells become cancerous. Screening is recommended for people over the age of 45 but should be considered earlier if the person is at increased risk. Due to early detection from screenings, colon cancer incidence rates decreased by about 2% percent from 2014 to 2018 in adults age 50 and older. However, it increased by 1.5% per year in younger individuals.\n
  Pancreas
  \nBecause pancreatic cancer progresses rapidly, and no method of early detection is currently available, it\u2019s one of the most dangerous types of cancer. The incidence rate has increased by about 1% per year since 2000. The five-year survival rate sits at only 11%. In addition, pancreatic cancer has shown resistance to chemotherapy, so clinical trials are taking place to develop alternative treatments.\n
  Liver & Intrahepatic Bile Duct\u00a0
  \nLiver cancer\u00a0is more common in men than women. Liver cancer diagnoses tripled from 1980 to 2015 but appear to have stabilized recently. At least 70% of liver cancer in the U.S. could be prevented by managing risk factors including excess body weight, smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. Hepatitis C, hepatitis B and\u00a0Type 2 diabetes also increase risk. Liver cancer is dangerous, because it does not cause symptoms until it\u2019s later stages, and early detection is difficult. The five-year survival rate is just 20%.\n
  Ovary
  \nBecause\u00a0ovarian cancer\u00a0does not usually have symptoms, or, has symptoms that tend to be associated with other issues, early detection is difficult. Women who are most at risk are those with a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Preventative surgery to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes can decrease this risk dramatically. Women who smoke and are overweight are also at a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. The five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is only 49%.\n
  10 Ways to Prevent Deadly Cancers\n
  While 5% to 10% of cancer cases are due to genetic defects, 90% to 95% are because of environmental and lifestyle factors. Lifestyle modifications to prevent cancer include:\n
  \n
  Stop smoking\/using tobacco\n
  Improve nutrition by adding more vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds\n
  Decrease consumption of processed foods\n
  Prevent heavy alcohol use\n
  Reduce obesity levels\n
  Increase activity\u00a0\u2013 get up and move\n
  Protect your skin by wearing sunscreen and\u00a0avoiding indoor tanning\n
  Participate in appropriate\u00a0cancer screenings by age and risk factor\n
  Reduce exposure to environmental pollution\n
  Get vaccinated with the\u00a0HPV vaccine\u00a0and hepatitis B vaccine\n\n
  \u201cIf you have questions about your diet, screenings, vaccines, exercise, skin care or any other cancer prevention techniques, start by asking your primary care provider. And, if you notice something doesn\u2019t feel right for your body \u2014 say something. It\u2019s the most important way to advocate for yourself and your health,\u201d Dr. Nish says.\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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Five Most Dangerous Cancers in Women\n

Why is Lung Cancer the Most Common?\n

Why is Colon Cancer on the Rise in Younger People?\n

Most Dangerous Cancers Explained\n

10 Ways to Prevent Deadly Cancers\n