Annual Report to the Nation: Progress Against Lung Cancer Drives Down Cancer Mortality

A new national cancer report finds that declining lung cancer mortality is driving continued reductions in overall cancer deaths among U.S. men and women.

Released Sept. 22, the 2026 Annual Report to the Nation found cancer death rates fell 1.6% annually among men and 1.1% among women from 2019 to 2023, while lung cancer mortality declined 4.7% and 3.0%, respectively. Since the early 2000s, smoking has fallen by half, early lung cancer diagnosis has increased by two-thirds, and five-year relative survival has doubled.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death, highlighting the importance of prevention, early detection and treatment. Read the full study in partnership with the American Cancer Society here.