Mercy Health is highlighting significant national progress in the fight against cancer, following the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) newly released annual cancer statistics report. For the first time in history, the United States has reached a 70% five year cancer survival rate, meaning that seven out of ten people diagnosed with cancer now live at least five years after diagnosis.
This remarkable milestone reflects decades of progress in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. Five year survival rates, which were around 40–50% in the 1950s and still only approximately 60% in the 1990s, have steadily improved thanks to innovation and expanded access to screening. The ACS report also shows that since 1991, the overall cancer death rate has fallen by 34%, preventing an estimated 4.8 million cancer deaths nationwide.
Advancements in early detection, such as mammography, colorectal cancer screening, lung cancer screening, and genetic risk assessment, continue to save lives by catching cancers when they are most treatable. On the treatment side, significant progress in immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and bispecific T cell engager (BiTE) therapies is reshaping cancer care across the country.
Mercy Health also emphasizes the critical role of clinical trials, which provide patients access to groundbreaking therapies when standard treatments are no longer effective and contribute to national research efforts that drive long term improvements.
“Across the nation, and right here in western Kentucky, we’re seeing the impact of earlier detection and more advanced therapies,” said John Montville, Executive Director of Oncology at Mercy Health — Paducah Cancer Center. “These innovations are giving more patients more time, and more hope.”
Mercy Health — Lourdes Hospital and Mercy Health — Paducah Cancer Center continue to expand access to the latest oncology services, ensuring that patients in western Kentucky receive nationally recognized care close to home.
“Reaching a 70% national five-year survival rate is a profound moment in cancer care. It reflects decades of scientific progress, but it also reflects the everyday work happening in communities like ours,” Montville said. “At Mercy Health, we’re committed to ensuring that patients in western Kentucky have access to the same advanced screenings, immunotherapies, targeted treatments, and clinical trials available at major cancer centers across the country. Thanks to these innovations, cancer is becoming far more treatable than ever before. This report shows that when we invest in early detection and research-driven therapies, lives are saved.”
Mercy Health encourages community members to speak with their health care providers about appropriate cancer screenings, as early detection remains one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes.