02/06/2026
The federal government estimated that about 2 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) in 2025, and that more than 618,000 individuals died from their disease. About 40% of these cases can be attributed to preventable causes such as smoking, excess body weight, physical inactivity, and excessive exposure to the sun, according to the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2025. Further, about 5.94 million cancer deaths were averted between 1975 to 2020 due to public health interventions regarding cancer prevention and screening.
This means that steps such as quitting smoking (or never starting in the first place), maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, protecting your skin from the sun, and getting vaccinated against the pathogens that cause certain cancers can dramatically reduce your risk of cancer in many cases.
Get more information about cancer prevention in the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2025, including facts about how modifying behaviors can impact cancer occurrence and outcomes.
https://cancerprogressreport.aacr.org/