This list of common cancer types includes cancers that are diagnosed with the greatest frequency in the United States, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers:
Cancer incidence and mortality statistics reported by the NationalCancer Institute and other resources were used to create the list.1 To qualify as a common cancer for the list, the estimated annual incidence for 2024 had to be 40,000 cases or more.
The most common type of cancer on the list is breast cancer, with 313,510 new cases expected in the United States in 2024. The next most common cancers are prostatecancer and lung cancer.
Because colon and rectal cancers are often referred to as "colorectal cancers," these two cancer types are combined for the list. For 2024, the estimated number of new cases of colon cancer and rectal cancer are 106,590 and 46,220, respectively, adding to a total of 152,810 new cases of colorectal cancer.
The following table gives the estimated numbers of new cases and deaths for each common cancer type in 2024:
| Cancer Type | Estimated New Cases | Estimated Deaths |
|---|
| Bladder | 83,190 | 16,840 |
| Breast (Female – Male) | 310,720 – 2,790 | 42,250 – 530 |
| Colon and Rectal (Combined) | 152,810 | 53,010 |
| Endometrial | 67,880 | 13,250 |
| Kidney (Renal Cell and Renal Pelvis) | 81,610 | 14,390 |
| Leukemia (All Types) | 62,770 | 23,670 |
| Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct | 41,630 | 29,840 |
| Lung (Including Bronchus) | 234,580 | 125,070 |
| Melanoma | 100,640 | 8,290 |
| Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma | 80,620 | 20,140 |
| Pancreatic | 66,440 | 51,750 |
| Prostate | 299,010 | 35,250 |
| Thyroid | 44,020 | 2,170 |
References
- Siegel RL, Giaquinto, AN, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2024. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians2024; 74(1):1–114. Last accessed May8, 2024. [PubMed Abstract]
- SEER Cancer Statistics Factsheets: Common Cancer Sites. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/common.html.Last accessed May 10, 2024.
FAQs
The most common cancers are breast, lung, colon and rectum and prostate cancers. Around one-third of deaths from cancer are due to tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of physical activity.
What are the top 5 most common cancers? ›
At a Glance. Breast, lung and bronchus, prostate, and colorectal cancers account for almost 50% of all new cancer cases in the United States. Lung and bronchus, colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancers are responsible for nearly 50% of all deaths.
What is the hardest cancer to cure? ›
The 10 deadliest cancers, and why there's no cure
- Pancreatic cancer.
- Liver cancer and intrahepatic bile duct cancer.
- Esophageal cancer.
- Lung cancer and bronchus cancer.
- Acute myeloid leukemia.
- Brain cancer and other nervous system cancer.
- Stomach cancer.
- Ovarian cancer.
A cancer diagnosis is never good news, but there are five types that are are particularly deadly: pancreatic, ovarian, lung, glioblastoma and triple-negative breast. These cancers are often diagnosed late, can be difficult to remove surgically and rebuff most therapies.
What are the five main types of cancer? ›
The major types of cancer are carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, and leukemia. Carcinomas -- the most commonly diagnosed cancers -- originate in the skin, lungs, breasts, pancreas, and other organs and glands. Lymphomas are cancers of lymphocytes.
What are 90% of all cancers? ›
Carcinoma refers to a malignant neoplasm of epithelial origin, also referred to as cancer of the internal or external lining of the body. Carcinomas account for 80 to 90 percent of all cancer cases.
What are the most aggressive cancers? ›
The top five most aggressive cancers are:
- Lung cancer.
- Colorectal cancer.
- Breast cancer.
- Pancreatic cancer.
- Prostate cancer.
Stage 4 cancer is not always terminal. It is usually advanced and requires more aggressive treatment. Terminal cancer refers to cancer that is not curable and eventually results in death. Some may refer to it as end stage cancer.
Which cancer is 100% curable? ›
Cancer occurs when cells start to grow and multiply at an uncontrollable rate. The most curable cancers in the United States are cancers of the thyroid, breast, prostate, testes, and skin. These types of cancer are considered most treatable when diagnosed in the early stages.
Which cancer kills the fastest? ›
Pancreatic cancer is aggressive. It often kills quickly and causes painful symptoms like: Stomach pain.
Types of treatable but not curable cancer
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
- Chronic myeloid leukaemia.
- Myeloma.
- Pleural mesothelioma.
- Secondary brain tumours.
- Secondary breast cancer.
- Secondary bone cancer.
- Secondary liver cancer.
What Is the Most Survivable Cancer?
| Sr. No. (From most to least) | Type of cancer | Patients expected to survive five years after their diagnosis (percent) |
|---|
| 1 | Prostate cancer | 99 |
| 2 | Thyroid cancer | 98 |
| 3 | Testicular cancer | 97 |
| 4 | Melanoma (Skin cancer) | 94 |
19 more rows- Although there are no curable cancers, melanoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and breast, prostate, testicular, cervical, and thyroid cancer have some of the highest 5-year relative survival rates. ...
- Breast cancer. ...
- Prostate cancer. ...
- Testicular cancer. ...
- Thyroid cancer. ...
- Melanoma. ...
- Cervical cancer. ...
- Hodgkin lymphoma.
Vitamin D. Research continues to look at the role of vitamin D in the development and recurrence of different cancers. Some early studies suggest that there is a link between low levels of vitamin D and the development of cancer.
What starves cancer cells? ›
Ketones become the energy to cells in the body. Early (preclinical) studies showed that some cancer cells can't use ketones as energy. So, changing the diet to be high in fat and low in carbohydrate will lower glucose levels and starve cancer cells. Normal body cells adapt and can use ketones to survive.
What is the rarest cancer? ›
Rarest Types of Cancer
- Gallbladder cancer.
- Hairy cell leukemia.
- Hepatoblastoma.
- Kaposi sarcoma.
- Lip cancer.
- Male breast cancer.
- Retinoblastoma.
- vagin*l cancer.
According to the report, the cancers with the highest survival rates are:
- Thyroid cancer, at 98 percent.
- Prostate cancer, at 97 percent.
- Testicular cancer, at 95 percent.
- Melanoma, at 94 percent.
Cancer occurs when cells start to grow and multiply at an uncontrollable rate. The most curable cancers in the United States are cancers of the thyroid, breast, prostate, testes, and skin. These types of cancer are considered most treatable when diagnosed in the early stages.
What are the top 3 new cancers? ›
The most common type of cancer on the list is breast cancer, with 313,510 new cases expected in the United States in 2024. The next most common cancers are prostate cancer and lung cancer.
What are the top 4 cancers in the world? ›
Incidence worldwide
The four most common cancers occurring worldwide are female breast, lung, bowel and prostate cancers. These four account for more than four in ten of all cancers diagnosed worldwide. Worldwide there will be 28 million new cases of cancer each year by 2040.
