Largest single-year drop in cancer deaths reported

The reduction in lung cancer deaths spurred the record-breaking drop, according to the report. “The accelerated drops in lung cancer mortality as well as in melanoma that we’re seeing are likely due at least in part to advances in cancer treatment over the past decade, such as immunotherapy,” said Dr. William G. Cance, chief medical and scientific officer for the American Cancer Society.

In another positive trend, for the first time ever, the five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer reached 10 percent. Reaching that double-digit survival rate has long been a goal for those in the pancreatic cancer community. In the past year, “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) have been diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer, raising public awareness of one of the deadliest cancers.