American Cancer Society reports an increase in the five-year survival rate for all cancers

Credit: Emory University

Research is changing many cancers like myeloma, liver and lung from a fatal disease to one that is manageable and chronic. 

7 in 10 people now survive their cancer five years or more. That’s up from only 50% in the mid-1970s, said Dr. Kristin Higgins, a radiation oncologist and the chief clinical officer for City of Hope Atlanta. 

"Most of the people that get a cancer diagnosis have the potential to beat it and will not necessarily experience a death sentence like it was 30 years ago," she said.

So, there is reason for all Georgians to stay optimistic. 

"It's important to take care of your health so that you don't get a cancer diagnosis, but if you do, treatments have improved so much over time and from a statistical point of view, you have a great chance at getting this cancer beat," Higgins said. 

Many of the cancers have declined because people are getting healthier by smoking less and exercising more, but there are certain cancers that are rising.

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Although the cancer mortality rate has continued to decline through 2023, incidence continues to increase for breast, uterine, and prostate cancers.

"Lifestyle matters," she said, pointing out an important statistic that stood out: "Lung cancer continues to be the No. 1 cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. 

More people die of lung cancer every year than the second and third cancers combined, which are colorectal and pancreatic cancers, she said.

Obesity, inactivity and alcohol use increase the risk of these cancers, so it's really important to try to get lung cancer diagnosed as early as possible, she said.  

"If you have a history of tobacco use, ask your doctor if you qualify for lung cancer screening and get that CT scan," she said. "Right now, only about 10% of Georgians that qualify for a lung cancer screening are getting it. So we really need to do more screening to increase our likelihood of getting those lung cancers cured before they become a Stage 4 cancer that really the treatment is only palliative."

The American Cancer Society’s 2026 Cancer Facts & Figures report estimates more than 68,000 new cancer diagnoses will be made this year in Georgia, and more than 19,000 Georgians will die.