Special Report

The Deadliest Cancers in America

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images News via Getty Images

Cancer has always been with us, at least back to the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth 80 million years ago (cancerous cells have been found in dinosaur fossils). 

Today, it is the second leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease (COVID comes third). More than 600,000 people succumb to various kinds of cancer each year in the U.S. (These are the states where deaths from cancer are going up.)

Despite significant strides in cancer detection and treatment over the last couple of decades that have made the illness manageable in many cases, it remains a deadly threat.

To determine the deadliest cancers in America, 24/7 Tempo reviewed cancer mortality data released in November 2022 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s WONDER database – a system for disseminating public health information and data. Cancer types are ranked based on the total number of deaths caused by each one occurring between 1999 and 2019.

Click here to see the deadliest cancers in America

Having health insurance gives people access to preventive care services that can help catch health problems, such as cancer, early, when they are easier to treat. Without coverage, people have to pay for medical expenses out of pocket, which can be very expensive, causing many people to avoid seeing a doctor for as long as possible. (These are the 21 states where the most people don’t have health insurance.)

stefanamer / iStock via Getty Images

30. Tongue
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 45,090
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 237,252 — #23 highest out of 69 cancers

[in-text-ad]

John Moore / Getty Images News via Getty Images

29. Mesothelioma
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 52,527
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 66,951 — #28 highest out of 69 cancers

Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images

28. Other non-epithelial skin
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 63,996
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 111,810 — #26 highest out of 69 cancers

Pornpak Khunatorn / iStock via Getty Images

27. Aleukemic, subleukemic, and NOS (not otherwise specified) leukemias
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 66,094
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 38,757 — #29 highest out of 69 cancers

[in-text-ad-2]

Paola Giannoni / E+ via Getty Images

26. Larynx
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 78,791
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 263,131 — #22 highest out of 69 cancers

stefanamer / iStock via Getty Images

25. Corpus uteri (endometrial)
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 84,177
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 942,305 — #10 highest out of 69 cancers

[in-text-ad]

utah778 / Getty Images

24. Cervix uteri (cervical)
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 85,352
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 271,212 — #21 highest out of 69 cancers

Goja1 / Getty Images

23. Soft tissue including heart
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 89,315
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 218,824 — #24 highest out of 69 cancers

jarun011 / Getty Images

22. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 92,864
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 341,468 — #18 highest out of 69 cancers

[in-text-ad-2]

A&J Fotos / E+ via Getty Images

21. Uterus and NOS (not otherwise specified)
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 93,348
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 32,598 — #30 highest out of 69 cancers

andresr / E+ via Getty Images

20. Intrahepatic bile duct
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 99,183
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 67,634 — #27 highest out of 69 cancers

[in-text-ad]

Ridofranz / iStock via Getty Images

19. Other leukemias
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 133,754
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 116,268 — #25 highest out of 69 cancers

thodonal / Getty Images

18. Melanoma of the skin
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 176,200
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 1,388,783 — #6 highest out of 69 cancers

toeytoey2530 / Getty Images

17. Acute myeloid leukemia
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 190,193
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 271,930 — #20 highest out of 69 cancers

[in-text-ad-2]

mr.suphachai praserdumrongchai / iStock via Getty Images

16. Rectum and rectosigmoid junction
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 197,566
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 862,711 — #12 highest out of 69 cancers

Nirian / Getty Images

15. Myeloma
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 237,566
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 455,718 — #14 highest out of 69 cancers

[in-text-ad]

PeopleImages / iStock via Getty Images

14. Stomach
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 242,869
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 470,016 — #13 highest out of 69 cancers

sutiporn / iStock via Getty Images

13. Kidney and renal pelvis
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 273,706
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 1,104,813 — #9 highest out of 69 cancers

Stígur Már Karlsson /Heimsmyndir / E+ via Getty Images

12. Esophagus
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 294,239
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 339,031 — #19 highest out of 69 cancers

[in-text-ad-2]

Theerawan Bangpran / iStock via Getty Images

11. Ovary
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 300,541
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 451,052 — #16 highest out of 69 cancers

zgr_pro / Getty Images

10. Urinary bladder, invasive and in situ
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 302,599
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 1,455,495 — #5 highest out of 69 cancers

[in-text-ad]

Sutthaburawonk / Getty Images

9. Brain and other nervous system
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 303,296
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 450,433 — #17 highest out of 69 cancers

Mark Kostich / iStock via Getty Images

8. Liver
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 319,541
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 454,873 — #15 highest out of 69 cancers

Dr_Microbe / iStock via Getty Images

7. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 437,847
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 1,344,260 — #7 highest out of 69 cancers

[in-text-ad-2]

jamesbenet / E+ via Getty Images

6. Prostate
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 618,082
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 4,428,868 — #3 highest out of 69 cancers

dusanpetkovic / iStock via Getty Images

5. Pancreas
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 763,842
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 863,830 — #11 highest out of 69 cancers

[in-text-ad]

Laurence Dutton / E+ via Getty Images

4. Miscellaneous tumors
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 864,325
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 1,200,611 — #8 highest out of 69 cancers

andresr / E+ via Getty Images

3. Female breast *
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 867,199
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 4,675,626 — #1 highest out of 69 cancers

atracurium_ / iStock via Getty Images

2. Colon excluding rectum
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 924,085
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 2,216,352 — #4 highest out of 69 cancers

[in-text-ad-2]

Egor Kulinich / Getty Images

1. Lung and bronchus
> Total number of deaths, 1999-2019: 3,244,697
> Incidence, 1999-2019: 4,471,220 — #2 highest out of 69 cancers

Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)

Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.

Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.

Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future

Get started right here.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.