The fight against cancer has reached a major turning point. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), seven in 10 people diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. now survive at least five years — a milestone that reflects decades of progress in prevention, detection, and treatment. That’s a dramatic improvement from the 1970s, when only about half of patients reached the five-year mark.
The ACS attributes this progress to several key factors: reduced smoking rates, major advances in cancer treatment, and — critically — earlier detection. It’s estimated that early 5 million cancer deaths were prevented between 1991 and 2023 due largely to improvements in early detection methods, prevention efforts, and treatment innovation.
In related news, research from the World Health Organization estimates that nearly four in 10 cancer cases could be prevented if people avoided tobacco, alcohol, obesity, physical inactivity, and other risk factors. The findings reinforce the importance of provider-guided care to help lower cancer incidence before disease develops or advances.
In short, progress against cancer depends on sustained commitment to prevention and early detection — which is why MedBen WellLiving promotes exams and screenings that help detect cancer at its earliest, most treatable stages, while also helping employers avoid the high costs associated with late-stage disease. To learn more, contact your broker or MedBen Marketing.