The Deadliest Cancers

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When the War on Cancer was declared in the early 1970s, the average five-year relative survival rate for all cancers was only 50 percent. Due to advances in research over these last decades, mostly funded by the National Institute of Health and National Cancer Institute, we've seen an increase in the five-year survival rate now being 68%. However, there are a number of cancers that still fall below 50 percent survival. These cancers are considered the "deadliest," cancers. 

The Recalcitrant (deadly) Cancer Research directed the NCI to develop scientific frameworks for the deadliest cancers, starting with pancreatic and lung cancers. This allowed real research to begin around these especially aggressive cancers. Cancer costs are projected to reach $158 billion by the year 2020. 

There are many sub‐types of cancers that fall under this definition, of course. However, it is nearly half of the 589,430 cancer deaths in 2015 are estimated to be caused by eight specific cancers:

  • Pancreas: 7%
  • Liver: 17%
  • Lung: 17%
  • Esophagus: 18%
  • Stomach: 28%
  • Myeloma: 47%
  • Brain: 35%
  • Ovary: 45%

If the projections hold, pancreatic cancer will bypass breast, prostate and colorectal cancers, ending up second only to lung cancer as the nation's deadliest cancer by the year 2030.

5 of the Most Deadliest Cancers

1. Pancreatic Cancer

Little progress in research and treatment has been made when it comes to pancreatic cancer. It's long been underfunded and the aging population is a factor. it's also very difficult to diagnose pancreatic cancer, due to the depth of which it's located in the abdomen. Even further, if patients have any symptoms they're quite non-specific and vague. 

The pancreas itself is surrounded by dense drug-blocking tissue, which is one of the reasons the disease begins to spread even at an early stage. 

The American Cancer Society predicts nearly 50,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and 40,000 will die.

2. Lung Cancer

Over 792,495 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year. Lung and bronchial cancer
is the top killer cancer in the United States. Smoking and use of tobacco products are the major causes of it, and it strikes most often between the ages of 55 and 65, according to the National Cancer Institute. There are two major types: non-small cell lung cancer, which is the most common, and small cell lung cancer, which spreads more quickly.

More than 157,000 people are expected to die of lung and bronchial cancer in 2010. Researchers have recently released a report predicting lung cancer as one of the most deadliest cancers even by the year 2030. 

3. Liver Cancer

Liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer kills 79,773 people globally each year. It is one of the most common forms of cancer around the world, but is uncommon in the United States, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, its rates in America are rising. Most liver cancer that occurs in the U.S. begins elsewhere and then spreads to the liver. A closely related cancer is intrahepatic bile duct cancer, which occurs in the duct that carries bile from the liver to the small intestine. Nearly 19,000 Americans are expected to die from liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer each year. 

4. Brain Cancer

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor. It's extremely rare, with only 2-3 cases per 100,000 people globally but of those diagnosed, about 50% die within one year. 

Recently researchers discovered a correlation between brain tumor growth and brain activity. This may potentially lead to therapeutic interventions. But there really aren't any curative treatments for high grade gliomas (general term for brain tumors generated around any brain tissue).

An estimated 24,000 people will be diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Of those diagnoses, 55% will be in men and 44% in women. The average survival rate for malignant brain tumors is 35% Over 14,000 people will die from brain cancer this year. 

5. Esophageal Cancer

Globally over 67,000 men and women die from esophageal cancer. This cancer is particularly aggressive, starting in the cells that line the esophagus (the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach) and usually occurs in the lower part of the esophagus, according to the Mayo Clinic. More men than women died from esophageal cancer between 2003 and 2007, according to the NCI. It is expected to kill almost 20,000 people this year. 

Quick Stats Men and Women: Deadliest Cancers

Researchers recently projected that over the next two decades breast, prostate and lung cancer will remain -- as they are today -- the top three cancers for men and women combined in terms of the sheer number of people being newly diagnosed.

The five most dangerous cancers in men are:

  1. Lung: 87,260 deaths
  2. Prostate: 29,270 deaths 
  3. Colon and Rectum: 26,300 deaths
  4. Pancreas: 19,480 deaths
  5. Liver: 14,890 deaths

The five most dangerous cancers in women are:

  1. Lung: 72,220 deaths
  2. Breast: 39,620 deaths
  3. Colon and rectum: 24,530 deaths
  4. Pancreas: 18,980 deaths
  5. Ovarian: 14,030 deaths

The Deadliest Cancer Coalition

The Deadliest Cancers Coalition is a collaboration of national non-profit organizations focused on addressing policy issues related to our nation’s most lethal, or recalcitrant, cancers, defined as those that have five-year relative survival rates below 50 percent. It was established in 2008 by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and other patient advocacy organizations and professional societies.

Future of Cancer

It's important to note that overall cancer death rates are decreasing in the United States. More studies are needed as to what other factors are continuing to make these cancers the deadliest such as environmental, lifestyle and other factors. 

We already know the following factors are what 90-95% of the time a cancer is due to: 

  • Smoking
  • Poor nutrition
  • Heavy alcohol use
  • Obesity
  • Low activity levels
  • Exposure to pollutants