The American Cancer Society has released its annual report on projections for new cancer cases and deaths in the United States. The report released Thursday estimates that cancer mortality rates will continue to decline in 2025, but the group is expecting more than 2 million new cancer cases and nearly 620,000 cancer deaths across the U.S. this year.
A panel of American Cancer Society experts discussed the report prior to its release. The ACS says cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., behind heart disease, and the leading cause of death among those younger than 85. The report’s more specific findings show a mix of troubling and hopeful trends in terms of overall diagnoses, deaths, and disparities linked to age, race, and gender.
In Massachusetts, the report shows that the highest number of expected new cancer cases for 2025 are breast cancer, followed by prostate cancer and lung cancer. Lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer are the three leading causes of cancer deaths in Massachusetts.
Pancreatic cancer on the rise
One of the report’s more troubling elements was a continued uptick in diagnoses and deaths for pancreatic cancer nationwide.
Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer for the ACS, said that over time, pancreatic cancer numbers can go up because the disease is difficult to diagnose in its early stages, and challenging to treat.
“The numbers are significantly higher than they were a century ago. And because it’s such a lethal cancer, [cases and] mortality numbers are tied very closely together. And this is now the third leading cause of cancer mortality.”
That element of the report resonated for Katie Torrence of Malden.
In August 2020, when Torrence was 53 years old, she learned she had early stage pancreatic cancer.
Torrence attributes her survival to early detection by an astute doctor during a telehealth visit
“That was the last thing I expected to hear. I was like, are you kidding? I figured it was the pandemic. [I thought] they were going to tell me to cut down on my drinking and, you know, get more exercise and [lose] some weight.”
Disparities in diagnoses and deaths
Torrence is one example of another trend highlighted in the report: a rise in cancer among women. While overall cancer incidences in men have declined, in women, diagnoses have gone up. And cancer incidences for women ages 50-64 have surpassed those in men.
For women under the age of 50, there’s an 82% higher incidence rate than men, up from 51% in 2002.
“What’s driving the increasing trend in women is breast cancer,” said Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, a senior author on the ACS report.
While cancer diagnoses among women have increased, mortality rates for women under 50 have not.
“So that is good news,” said Jemal. “And we’re not seeing an increase in advanced cancer diagnoses.”
The report also found that racial and ethnic disparities persist nationwide. Native Americans have the highest cancer mortality rate in the U.S. And Black cancer patients have a mortality rate that’s twice that of white people when it comes to specific diseases like prostate, stomach, and uterine cancers.
“Even looking at breast cancer, where you’re more likely to develop breast cancer as a white woman, you’re more likely to die as a Black woman,” said Dahut.
Causes for optimism
The report found signs of hope as well. Dahut said that while colorectal cancer rates are increasing in young people, overall colorectal cancer mortality rates have fallen.
Another positive finding shows a decrease in cancer death rates among children.
“Going back to the 1970s, where we saw pediatric leukemia really being almost a death sentence in many ways, there’s a 70% decrease in cancer mortality amongst younger children,” said Dahut, who also noted a 63% decrease in mortality for adolescents.
Statistics from the ACS report were drawn from data gathered by central cancer registries and the National Center for Health Statistics
The report notes that the continued decline in overall mortality rates is mostly due to smoking restrictions, earlier detection for some cancers, and improved treatment.
For Torrence, her own research confirming low survival rates for pancreatic cancer left her frightened. But after a Whipple procedure, which she credits with saving her life, Torrence said that five years later she’s thriving and beating the odds.
“People need to be in tune with their bodies,” said Torrence. “They need to pay attention. They need to be able to not be afraid to go to the doctor.”
Cancer and alcohol
The ACS report comes soon after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a stark warning on the link between alcohol consumption and cancer, suggesting that alcohol products come with warning labels noting their cancer risk, similar to those found on tobacco products.
Rebecca Siegel, lead author on the ACS report, said that when it comes to alcohol, the danger varies by cancer type. Siegel said that for diseases like colorectal cancer, “excessive” alcohol consumption can be associated with an increased risk.
“Whereas for breast cancer, there doesn’t seem to be any safe level of alcohol,” said Siegel.
