What to know
You can use U.S. Cancer Statistics to find information about new cancer diagnoses and deaths occurring from 2003 to 2022 for 100% of the U.S. population.
Overview
The U.S. Cancer Statistics surveillance system is the nation's comprehensive source for high-quality cancer data. It exemplifies the commitment of ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø and its partners to advance public health.
Information about new cancer cases (incidence) comes from ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø evaluates incidence data for quality, completeness, and timeliness for inclusion in U.S. Cancer Statistics data products, including the Data Visualizations tool and public use database. Information about cancer deaths (mortality) comes from ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's National Center for Health Statistics National Vital Statistics System. Mortality data are routinely monitored for quality and are considered virtually 100% complete.
Comprehensive, nationwide coverage of new cancer diagnoses and deaths in the U.S. population advances our understanding of prevention, treatment, survival, and survivorship care of children and adults diagnosed with cancer, including rare pediatric cancers.
Findings
U.S. Cancer Statistics has achieved 100% coverage of new cancers and deaths reported in all 50 states and the District of Columbia over a 20-year period (2003 to 2022). During this period, 36.7 million new cancer cases were reported (Figure 1), of which 3.76 million were nonmalignant cancers (in situ tumors and benign or borderline tumors of the brain or other nervous system). The number of new cancer cases generally goes up each year because the U.S. population is growing and aging. The exception is 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health services and led to delays and reductions in cancer screenings and diagnoses. Cancer rates (the number of cases relative to the population) since 2003.
The number of new cancer cases, grouped by age at diagnosis, is presented in Figure 2. While most diagnoses occur among adults, during this 20-year period, 228,527 cancers were diagnosed among children younger than 15 years and 1,799,082 cancers were diagnosed among adolescents and young adults 15 to 39 years.
Cancer diagnoses by state
Figure 1. Number of cancer diagnoses by state, 2003 to 2022
This figure includes malignant tumors, in situ tumors, and benign and borderline tumors of the brain and nervous system.
Cancer diagnoses by age
Figure 2. Annual number of new cancer diagnoses by age at diagnosis, United States, 2003 to 2022
This figure includes malignant tumors, in situ tumors, and benign and borderline tumors of the brain and nervous system. Missed cancer diagnoses resulting from disruptions in health services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to an observed decline in incidence for most cancer sites in 2020.
What ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø is doing
Cancer is a national notifiable disease. ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø plays a pivotal role in supporting the infrastructure needed to collect, analyze, and disseminate national cancer data. Established by Congress in 1992 and administered by ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø, NPCR supports population-based central cancer registries in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories to collect data on new cancer diagnoses. For each cancer case, central cancer registries collect information about the person (for example, sex and age), the tumor (for example, the type of cancer and when it was diagnosed), and the first course of treatment. These data are combined and sent to ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø (without any information that could identify a specific person) to be entered into a national database.
To support collection of incident data, ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø provides funding, technical and operational assistance, training, quality standard guidelines, applications, and computer-based processing systems. ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø also prepares standards for develops death certification guidance and training, and provides feedback on data provided.
ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø provides several cancer statistics tools and databases for researchers and the interested public, including the U.S. Cancer Statistics This online tool shows the numbers and rates of new cancer cases and deaths at national, state, county, and congressional district levels, as well as information about cancer screening and risk factors at national, state, and county levels. The U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Database includes detailed, de-identified information on more than 39 million cancer cases diagnosed since 2001. It is a freely available and unparalleled resource for investigating cancer incidence across the nation.
Importance of cancer data
State and local health departments use U.S. Cancer Statistics data to inform public health initiatives, research, and policy decisions that address cancer in their communities. These data and tools enable detailed analysis that drive innovation in cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship and ultimately improve the quality of care for cancer patients nationwide.
Comprehensive, nationwide coverage of new cancer diagnoses and deaths in the U.S. population advances our understanding of prevention, treatment, survival, and survivorship care of children and adults diagnosed with cancer, including rare pediatric cancers. These accomplishments underscore ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's commitment to reducing cancer and saving lives.
Data source
Data in this brief come from U.S. Cancer Statistics, the official federal cancer statistics. U.S. Cancer Statistics incidence data are from population-based registries that participate in ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. Data submitted in 2024 that met publication standards during 2003 to 2022 covered 100% of the U.S. population in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.