Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIn the United StatesThe Most Common Cancer DiagnosisThe Leading Cause of Cancer DeathsCancer In WomenCancer in MenCancer PreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
In the United States
The Most Common Cancer Diagnosis
The Leading Cause of Cancer Deaths
Cancer In Women
Cancer in Men
Cancer Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
People often ask about the most common causes of cancer in the United States, both for males and females. Yet this question could mean two different things.
The answers will depend on whether you define it as the cancers that are most frequently diagnosed, or rather the cancers that most often lead to terminal illness and death.
This article looks at the statistics behind those definitions and how the answers may differ depending on the sex you were assigned at birth. It also looks at steps you may take to lower your risk.
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Cases Versus Deaths
Each year, the American Cancer Society updates its facts and figures on cancer in the U.S. The prediction for 2024 was that more than 2 million new cases diagnosed, with 611,720 cancer deaths. These numbers include all types of cancer.
A closer look at the statistics reveals that while some cancers occur more often, with proper treatment their survival rates are better. Others occur less frequently but will more often prove fatal.
For example,breast canceraccounts for nearly a third of all cancer diagnoses in females. But while there are fewer cases oflung cancer, it still claims more lives than breast cancer.
This understanding may change the way people perceive their own risks about the cancers that may affect them. That’s especially important for someethnic and minority groupsthat historically have been more vulnerable to the impacts of cancer.
Keep in mind that your cancer mortality risk depends on other factors beyond numbers, including its stage when diagnosed. For example, fewer lung cancers are diagnosed at the advanced stage today but more are found at earlier stages. Early detection may make a real difference in cancer outcomes.
Breast Cancer Staging: What You Need To Know
The most common type of cancer overall isskin cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Although they account for the great majority of skin cancers, the two most common types (basal cellandsquamouscell cancer) are rarely fatal. Though much less common,melanomais responsible for nearly all skin cancer deaths.
Because they occur so frequently and are so rarely fatal, basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers are usually not included in lists of most common cancer diagnoses.
Apart from those, the most common diagnoses projected overall for 2024 were:
Pictures of Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers
The most common cause of overall cancer deaths in the U.S. is lung cancer. This is true for people of all sexes.
The top causes of cancer deaths for people of all sexes combined are:
Overall Top Cancer DiagnosesSkin cancerBreast cancerProstate cancerLung cancerColorectal cancerOverall Top Cancer DeathsLung cancerColorectal cancerPancreatic cancerBreast cancerProstate cancer
Overall Top Cancer DiagnosesSkin cancerBreast cancerProstate cancerLung cancerColorectal cancer
Skin cancer
Breast cancer
Prostate cancer
Lung cancer
Colorectal cancer
Overall Top Cancer DeathsLung cancerColorectal cancerPancreatic cancerBreast cancerProstate cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Cancer in Women
In people assigned female at birth, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis. The five most frequently diagnosed cancers are projected as:
Keep in mind that men can get breast cancer too. An estimated 2,790 cases of breast cancer in men were projected for 2024.The lifetime risk for breast cancer is 1 in 726 men.People who are trans or non-binary should speak with a healthcare provider about their risk.
An Overview of Breast Cancer in Males
The types of cancer that most often lead to cancer death in females are:
Researchers have seen a more than 80% rise inlung cancer cases in womenacross four decades. This is true despite cases dropping overall and lower rates oflung cancer in men.Lung cancer in women can be different than in men. Just as with heart disease, the symptoms are often vague. It’sessential to knowthese symptoms and warning signs.
Researchers have seen a more than 80% rise inlung cancer cases in womenacross four decades. This is true despite cases dropping overall and lower rates oflung cancer in men.
Lung cancer in women can be different than in men. Just as with heart disease, the symptoms are often vague. It’sessential to knowthese symptoms and warning signs.
Lung Cancer Symptoms, Types, and What to Know
In people assigned male at birth, the most common cancer diagnoses in 2024 are projected to be:
For people assigned male at birth, the most common causes of cancer deaths in 2024 are projected to be:
Prostate cancer is a good example of why a cancer can be more “common” but less fatal. There are 299,010 new prostate cancer cases expected in 2024.That’s more than one-fourth of all cancer diagnoses in males. Yet it will only lead to 11% of cancer deaths or some 35,200 people.
Cancer Prevention: How to Reduce Your Risk
While these cancer statistics may seem ominous, there are many simple steps you can take tolower your cancer risk. In many cases, these steps will involve comparatively simple lifestyle changes.
Some of these changes include:
Summary
It may seem like these cancer statistics are just a lot of numbers, but understanding them is key to knowing your cancer risk and how to prevent it. The “most common cancer” answers are almost always different, depending on if you mean how often they happen or how often people are dying from them. Clearly, the cancer types and risks also change for men and women.
That said, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancerdeathfor both men and women. Keep that in mind as you seek to reduce your cancer risk. Avoid smoking, be sure to test your home for radon gas exposure, and make other lifestyle choices that will protect your health.
Cancer might be considered common because people today live longer lives than ever before. The risk of cancer increases with age. Life expectancy has dramatically increased since the 1960’s, which means the likelihood of being diagnosed with cancer has increased.
Cancer Causes and Risk Factors
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Siegel RL, Giaquinto AN, Jemal A.Cancer statistics, 2024.CA A Cancer J Clinicians. 2024;74(1):12-49. doi:10.3322/caac.21820Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin Cancer.American Academy of Dermatology.Skin Cancer.Breastcancer.org.U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics.American Lung Association.Lung Cancer Fact Sheet.Cancer Research UK.Why Are Cancer Rates Increasing?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).What Are the Risk Factors for Lung Cancer?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).How Many Cancers Are Linked With HPV Each Year?Additional ReadingNIH National Cancer Institute.Common cancer types.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Siegel RL, Giaquinto AN, Jemal A.Cancer statistics, 2024.CA A Cancer J Clinicians. 2024;74(1):12-49. doi:10.3322/caac.21820Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin Cancer.American Academy of Dermatology.Skin Cancer.Breastcancer.org.U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics.American Lung Association.Lung Cancer Fact Sheet.Cancer Research UK.Why Are Cancer Rates Increasing?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).What Are the Risk Factors for Lung Cancer?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).How Many Cancers Are Linked With HPV Each Year?Additional ReadingNIH National Cancer Institute.Common cancer types.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Siegel RL, Giaquinto AN, Jemal A.Cancer statistics, 2024.CA A Cancer J Clinicians. 2024;74(1):12-49. doi:10.3322/caac.21820Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin Cancer.American Academy of Dermatology.Skin Cancer.Breastcancer.org.U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics.American Lung Association.Lung Cancer Fact Sheet.Cancer Research UK.Why Are Cancer Rates Increasing?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).What Are the Risk Factors for Lung Cancer?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).How Many Cancers Are Linked With HPV Each Year?
Siegel RL, Giaquinto AN, Jemal A.Cancer statistics, 2024.CA A Cancer J Clinicians. 2024;74(1):12-49. doi:10.3322/caac.21820
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Skin Cancer.
American Academy of Dermatology.Skin Cancer.
Breastcancer.org.U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics.
American Lung Association.Lung Cancer Fact Sheet.
Cancer Research UK.Why Are Cancer Rates Increasing?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).What Are the Risk Factors for Lung Cancer?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).How Many Cancers Are Linked With HPV Each Year?
NIH National Cancer Institute.Common cancer types.
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