- FDA approval of 35 new treatments for cancer, including the first PARP-targeted therapeutic for use in prostate and pancreatic cancers, the first molecularly targeted agent approved for epithelioid sarcoma, and the first antibody-drug conjugate for triple-negative breast cancer.
- From 1991 to 2017 the US cancer death rate fell by 29% – a reduction estimated to be responsible for saving 2.9 million lives.
- Cigarette smoking rates among US adults have fallen to less than 14% of the population, down from 42% in 1965. The reduction has been attributed to public education and policy initiatives.
- Falls in screening. Data from electronic medical records of 190 hospitals across 23 US states show the number of screening tests for early detection of cervical, breast, and colon cancers conducted in the US fell by 85% or more following the first case of Covid-19.
- Delays to treatment. Data shows 79% of patients actively undergoing cancer treatment had to delay some aspect of their care as a result of the pandemic.
- Projections of increased deaths. Delays in cancer screenings and treatment are projected to lead to more than 10,000 additional deaths from breast and colorectal cancers over the next decade.
- Declines in patients enrolled in clinical trials. There was a 74% decline in the number of new patients enrolling in clinical trials during the first two weeks of May 2020 compared with the same period last year. Enrolment continues to remain 30% lower than before the pandemic.
- The annual report also highlights that cancer disparities continue to affect racial and ethnic minority patients, citing the example of non-Hispanic Black children and adolescents with cancer who are 50% more likely to die from cancer than non-Hispanic White children and adolescents with cancer.
- African Americans having had the highest overall cancer death rate of any racial or ethnic group for more than 40 years.
- Blacks having higher incidence of death rates for many of the most common cancer types, including breast, colorectal, lung and prostate cancers.
- Latinos having lower overall cancer incidence and death rates than whites, but higher rates of liver, stomach and cervical cancer and childhood leukaemia.
- American Indians and Alaska Natives having lower overall cancer incidence and death rates than whites, but higher rates of liver cancer and higher mortality from stomach and kidney cancers.
- Bisexual women being 70% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than heterosexual women.
- Many of the factors driving Covid-19 disparities overlapping with the factors contributing to cancer health disparities.
- Racial and ethnic minorities being severely underrepresented in clinical trials, and a lack of understanding of how cancer develops in this group.