US cancer incidence and mortality trends by sex, race/ethnicity, and age using population-based registry and vital statistics data, with a special focus on 21st-century progress against lung cancer (2000–2025).
Overall cancer death rates fell 1.6%/year in males and 1.1%/year in females (2019–2023); lung cancer death rates dropped 4.7%/year in males and 3.0%/year in females. Since the early 2000s, smoking halved, early-stage lung cancer diagnosis rose by two-thirds, and 5-year relative survival for lung cancer doubled.
2020 data were excluded due to COVID-19-related disruptions in cancer reporting, which may affect trend continuity. Incidence and mortality data have inherent reporting lags and registry coverage variation.
The dramatic decline in lung cancer mortality—driven by reduced smoking, expanded early detection, and improved treatment—underscores the value of lung cancer screening programs and tobacco cessation efforts. Clinicians should continue to prioritize low-dose CT screening for eligible patients and smoking cessation counseling.
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