American Cancer Society finds improvement in 5-year cancer survival rate: Doctor explains why survival rates matter and where India stands

When the American Cancer Society talks about improved 5-year cancer survival rates, it sounds like good news. And it is. As per the 75th annual Cancer Statistics report by American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers in the mid-1970s, the 5-year cancer survival rate was 50% and now it’s 70%, meaning that 7 in 10 people diagnosed with cancer can celebrate their 5-year diagnosis anniversary. In 2026, approximately 2,114,850 new cancer cases and 626,140 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the United States. The cancer mortality rate continued to decline through 2023, averting 4.8 million deaths since 1991, largely because of smoking reductions, earlier detection, and improved treatment, the report added.

So what does it actually mean when survival rates go up?

What a better survival rate really tells us

A higher 5-year survival rate means more people are alive five years after their cancer diagnosis than before. That’s it. Simple. And behind that simple fact are millions of quiet wins. Earlier detection. Better imaging. More targeted treatments. Fewer people are being told, “There’s nothing we can do.”

For many cancers, surviving five years often means the disease is under control or unlikely to return. And for families, those extra years matter. And there’s another side to it. Rising survival rates show that research actually works. Better drugs. Smarter surgeries.

We at TOI Health spoke to Dr. Sachin Trivedi, Director, Medical Oncology, HCG ICS Khubchandani Cancer Centre, Colaba on what this study means, what is the trend in India and why survival rates matter.

Global survival trends show major improvement in cancer survival rates, do we see similar trends in India, and why or why not?

Recent data from the American Cancer Society (ACS) marks a significant global milestone in cancer care. Currently, almost 70 percent of patients with cancer in the United States are surviving at least five years after diagnosis. This is the result of a host of advancements in cancer treatment over the past several decades, including earlier diagnosis and improved healthcare infrastructure. However, the situation in the world at large varies significantly, and the scenario of patients surviving cancer in India is far more complex.

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According to the data obtained from the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP), which falls under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), there has been improvement in survival rates in India but they remain clearly low in comparison with developed nations. The overall survival at five years in India for all cancers combined is estimated between 30 and 35 percent. It’s not just the lack of medical capacity that is causing poor survival rates but largely the absence of specialized screenings and other system-related factors that influence the entry of healthcare patients into the system that causes these low survival statistics.

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Which cancers in India have better survival and which don’t?

Survival experiences in the Indian population differ greatly based upon types of cancer. For example, survival in breast cancer appears relatively good, with five-year survival rates between 60% to 66% in various population-based cancer registries. Rates vary from 45 to 50% for cervical cancer, 50 to 55% in the case of oral cancer, while in colorectal cancer, they vary between 35 to 40%. However, surprisingly, survival in lung cancer continues to be one of the poorest, with five-year survival rates below 15% in most cases. These data are based upon population-based cancer registries of NCRP conducted between 2012-2016.

One of the most critical contributing factors for poor survival in India is late-stage cancer at the time of diagnosis. According to the data obtained from NCRP, the majority of Indian cancer patients get diagnosed at Stage III or Stage IV levels. Stages III and IV of cancer can be termed as the advanced stages of cancer because in these stages, the cancer can no longer be cured easily; hence, treatments for such stages of cancer can prove costly and, in addition to this, have less chances of survival.

The ACS report says 70% of people now survive at least five years after cancer - what does “five-year survival” really mean for patients and doctors?

Ironically, “five years survival” itself is commonly misunderstood. As an indicator, ‘five years survival actually measures how many patients are living five years after being diagnosed with cancer, whether or not they are now pathology-free and/or receiving ongoing care’.

This does not indicate cure rates, quality of life, or chances of recurrence after five years. However, increased five-year survival rates are an excellent measure of progress in early detection, efficacy of care, and continuity of care.

Are newer treatments like targeted therapies and immunotherapy widely available in India, and how much difference do they make?

Newer treatments, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies, have transformed cancer outcomes worldwide and, importantly, cancers that were once uniformly fatal. These treatments are available in India as a rule in large urban centers and tertiary hospitals, showing meaningful benefits in selected patient groups.

But overall, their population impact remains limited. High costs, uneven availability, and spotty insurance coverage mean that many patients who might benefit from these therapies cannot get them in time or do not get them at all.

What can India learn from the U.S. or other countries about reducing cancer deaths and increasing survival?

Global experience shows that advances in survival from cancer are as much related to the design of the health system as they are to medical techniques and advances. Those countries that show better survival from cancer have developed extensively their screening programs for cancers like breasts, cervix, and colon. They have also improved their support services in pathology and established their registries for cancers.

Patient financial protection, under the forms of insurance and cost control for essential drugs, has been another important factor in better completion rates and outcomes.

The Indian data on survivability from cancer leaves no doubt as to what needs to happen in the country if more Indian citizens are to survive the disease. Clearly, the key to more Indian lives will be saved by improved diagnosis and the availability of efficacious care rather than by any innovation in the medical field. Though the rate of survivability for certain types of cancers has improved over the years, the rate needs to quicken.

Medical experts consulted
This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by:

Dr. Sachin Trivedi, Director, Medical Oncology, HCG ICS Khubchandani Cancer Centre, Colaba

Inputs were used to explain 5-year cancer survival rate and their significance.