U.S. Cancer Statistics: Highlights from 2017 Incidence

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U.S. Cancer Statistics Data Briefs, No. 17
June 2020

This data brief uses the most recent data available at the time of publication. More recent data may be available in a newer data brief or in the U.S. Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations tool.

In 2017, a total of 1,701,315 new cancer cases were reported in the United States: 861,381 among males and 839,934 among females. For all cancers combined, the incidence rate was 438 per 100,000 standard population and was 475 per 100,000 among males and 413 per 100,000 among females.

Each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) produce updated U.S. Cancer Statistics data. These data are the official federal cancer statistics for the United States. The U.S. Cancer Statistics provides cancer information on the entire U.S. population. Information about new cancer cases (incidence) comes from CDC’s National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. The latest data release includes cancers diagnosed through 2017.

Figure 1. Incidence Ratesa for Three Common Cancers by Race/Ethnicity, United States, 2017.

aRates are per 100,000 population and are age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population.

Figure 2. 5-year Relative survival for Common Cancersa by Race

5-year relative survival estimates the percentage of cancer patients who will have not died from their cancer 5 years after diagnosis.

aBased on cancers diagnosed during 2001 to 2016 and follow-up of patients through December 31, 2016.

Explore U.S. Cancer Statistics

The Data Visualizations tool makes it easy for anyone to explore and use the latest cancer data.

You can use this tool to create interactive graphics examining—

  • New cancer cases and cancer deaths by—
    • State, county, and Congressional district.
    • Sex, age, race, ethnicity, and year.
  • Survival statistics.
  • Number of cancer survivors (also called prevalence).

Researchers can analyze incidence data from the entire United States with the Public Use Database, available through SEER*Stat software.

Data Sources

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 CDC’s National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and/or the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program and met high-quality data criteria for the 2019 data submission, covering 100% of the U.S. population. 

U.S. Cancer Statistics survival data are from 45 NPCR registries that met high-quality data criteria for the 2019 data submission and conducted linkage with the National Death Index and/or active patient follow-up, covering 94% of the U.S. population. Five-year relative survival estimates are based on cases diagnosed between 2001 and 2016.

More Information
Suggested Citation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. United States Cancer Statistics: Highlights from 2017 Incidence. USCS Data Brief, no. 17. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of Health and Human Services; 2020.