The top cancer success stories of the past 50 years, by the numbers
A report from the American Association for Cancer Research highlights significant improvements in five-year survival rates for various cancers over the past 50 years. While lung cancer and childhood leukemia have seen major progress, researchers note that some malignancies remain difficult to treat.
Why it matters
Understanding long-term trends in cancer survival helps inform public health policy and highlights the effectiveness of modern medical interventions like immunotherapy.
Heidi Ledford reports for Nature from Seattle, Washington.
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Bluesky Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Whatsapp X Save article View saved research Improvements in cancer treatment in the past half-century have made many forms of the condition less deadly. Credit: Doaa Albaz/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty
An analysis showcases the past half-century’s biggest cancer success stories — but also highlights the recalcitrant malignancies that continue to vex researchers .
The report, released last month by the American Association for Cancer Research 1 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, finds that 71% of people with cancer in the United States will live for at least five years after diagnosis, up from 49% in the late 1970s (see ‘Uneven progress’).
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