New national estimates show continued progress in cancer survival in the United States, even as a substantial cancer burden persists. According to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics, 2026 report published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, improvements in detection and treatment have driven survival higher, but cancer will still affect millions of Americans in 2026.
The ACS projects approximately 2,114,850 new cancer cases and 626,140 cancer deaths in the United States in 2026.
The report highlights a major milestone in survival: “the 5-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined reached 70% for diagnoses during 2015–2021 overall…”
That 70% figure reflects decades of progress driven by reductions in smoking, earlier detection for some cancers, and advances in treatment. The ACS also notes that the overall cancer death rate declined by about 34% from its peak in the early 1990s through 2023, resulting in an estimated 4.8 million cancer deaths averted during that period.
Despite these gains, cancer remains the second leading cause of death overall in the U.S. and the leading cause of death among people younger than 85 years.
Texas Among the States With the Largest Cancer Burden
State projections included in the ACS report show that Texas is expected to bear a substantial portion of the national cancer burden in 2026.
According to the ACS state estimates:
- Texas is projected to have 161,330 new cancer cases in 2026, representing roughly 7.6% of all U.S. cases.
- Texas is projected to have 46,300 cancer deaths in 2026, about 7.4% of all U.S. cancer deaths.
Those figures place Texas as the third-largest share of cancer cases and deaths nationally, behind only California and Florida.
Among major cancer types in Texas, the ACS projections include:
- Lung and bronchus cancer: 14,260 new cases and 8,080 deaths
- Colon and rectal cancer: 13,310 new cases and 4,750 deaths
- Female breast cancer: 24,270 new cases and 3,400 deaths
- Prostate cancer: 24,090 new cases and 2,480 deaths
As nationally, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Texas.
Survival Gains Vary by Cancer Type
Although overall survival has improved, the ACS report emphasizes substantial differences in outcomes by cancer type. Five-year relative survival is highest for cancers such as thyroid (98%), prostate (98%), testis (95%), and melanoma of the skin (95%). In contrast, survival remains lower for cancers with high mortality, including lung (28%), liver (22%), esophageal (22%), and pancreatic (13%) cancers.
The report also highlights remarkable improvements for some previously lethal cancers. For example, five-year relative survival increased from 32% to 62% for myeloma and from 7% to 22% for liver cancer between the mid-1990s and 2015–2021.
Ongoing Challenges and Threats to Progress
Despite decades of sustained progress, the ACS cautions that continued improvements are not guaranteed. The report states that “continued progress is threatened by proposed federal cuts to cancer research and health insurance.”
The authors also note concerns about gaps in screening, disparities in incidence and outcomes across population groups, and potential impacts of pandemic-related disruptions in care.
