Defining Cancer Statistics

The following are key statistics generally used to assess the impact of cancer in the general population. Use the links on this page to learn more about each statistic type.

  • Incidence - the number of newly diagnosed cases during a specific time period
  • Mortality - the number of deaths during a specific time period
  • Prevalence - new and pre-existing cases for people alive on a certain date
  • Survival - the proportion of patients alive at some point subsequent to the diagnosis of their cancer
  • Lifetime Risk - the probability of developing or dying of cancer
  • Statistics by Race/Ethnicity - a measure of the cancer burden in racial/ethnic minorities and medically underserved populations

What are cancer statistics? Cancer registries collect and interpret data to help tell a story about the latest cancer trends.