Cancer Statistics for Americans

(From the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute)

Since 1990, 5 million people have died from cancer. That equals one person every minute.
Approximately 1.3 million new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 1998.
Men have a 1 in 2 lifetime risk of developing cancer.
Women have a 1 in 3 lifetime risk of developing cancer.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death; heart disease is the first.
One of every four deaths is from cancer.
Approximately 8 million Americans alive today have a history of cancer. Some can be considered cured, even if their cancer returns after 5 years. Others still have cancer.
The overall annual costs for cancer equal $107 billion; $37 billion of that amount accounts for direct medical costs. Treatment of breast, lung, and prostate cancers account for more than half of the direct medical costs.