Roundup: 5-Year Cancer Survival Rates Improve to 70% Milestone in U.S.; and More News

Five-Year Survival Rates for All Cancers Reach 70% Milestone, Reports American Cancer Society

The fight against cancer has reached a major turning point in the U.S., according to a new report by the American Cancer Society (ACS). The five-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined has officially reached 70 percent for the first time.

This statistic, highlighted in Cancer Statistics, 2026, indicates that medical advancements are effectively helping people live longer, better lives after a diagnosis, states an ACS news release.

Turning the Tide on Fatal Cancers

The report reveals that progress isn't just limited to highly treatable forms of the disease. Survival rates for historically difficult-to-treat cancers have seen remarkable improvements since the mid-1990s.

The report found that cancer mortality rates continued to decline through 2023, "averting 4.8 million deaths since 1991, largely because of smoking reductions, earlier detection and improved treatment."

One key factor is how genetics play a role in cancer, which leads to prevention and treatment options, said Leonard Alan Kalman, M.D., interim system chief executive for Baptist Health Cancer Careand interim executive medical director for Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute.

"If you can identify the mutation ... and find a specific treatment, a targeted drug, we're curing more people or putting people in remission, and they're living longer, for certain," Dr. Kalman, who was not involved in the report, told USA TODAY in a review of the ACS report.

Survival rates for myeloma have nearly doubled, jumping from 32 percent to 62 percent. Liver cancer survival has tripled from 7 percent to 22 percent, and lung cancer survival has risen from 15 percent to 28 percent. These gains are attributed to better diagnostic tools and revolutionary treatments that have emerged over the last three decades.

Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director at the American Cancer Society, emphasized the magnitude of this achievement, in a statement. "Seven in 10 people now survive their cancer five years or more, up from only half in the mid-70s," she said. "This stunning victory is largely the result of decades of cancer research that provided clinicians with the tools to treat the disease more effectively, turning many cancers from a death sentence into a chronic disease."

A Mix of Progress and Challenges

While survival rates are climbing, the report presents a complex picture of cancer in America for 2026. The ACS projects approximately 2.1 million new cancer diagnoses, and more than 626,000 deaths this year.

However, cancer mortality rate has dropped by 34 percent since its peak in 1991, averting nearly 5 million deaths. However, the number of new cases is rising for several common cancers, including breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancer.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death, killing more people than colorectal and pancreatic cancers combined. Yet, even here, there is hope. For patients diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, five-year survival rates have improved dramatically, doubling since the mid-90s thanks to new targeted therapies.

Closing the Gap

The report also sheds light on persistent inequalities. Native American populations currently face the highest cancer mortality rates, with death rates double those of White people for kidney, liver, and stomach cancers, the ACS reports. The ACS stresses that while science is advancing, ensuring equitable access to high-quality care is essential to make sure these survival gains benefit everyone equally.

Learn about Baptist Health's Cancer Screening programs.

Irregular ‘Internal Body Clock' Linked to Higher Dementia Risk, Study Finds

A new study reveals a significant connection between our internal body clocks and the risk of developing dementia. Published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, the research suggests that weaker or more fragmented daily rhythms are associated with a greater likelihood of dementia in older adults.

The body's internal clock, known as its circadian rhythm, regulates our 24-hour cycle of sleep and wakefulness. It also influences other bodily functions like hormone release and digestion. When this rhythm is strong, your body receives clear signals for when to be active and when to rest. A weaker rhythm can be more easily disrupted by changes in light or daily schedules.

The study followed 2,183 older adults, with an average age of 79, who did not have dementia at the start. This diverse group included both Black and white participants. They wore small monitors on their chests for an average of 12 days to track their rest and activity patterns. Researchers then monitored the participants for an average of three years, during which 176 individuals were diagnosed with dementia.

Key Findings of the Study

Researchers analyzed several aspects of the participants' circadian rhythms. One key measure was "relative amplitude," which looks at the difference between a person's most active and least active periods. Individuals with a lower relative amplitude, indicating a weaker rhythm, had a 54 percent greater risk of developing dementia for every standard deviation decrease.

Another important finding related to the timing of daily activity. The study found that people whose activity levels peaked later in the afternoon (2:15 p.m. or later) had a 45 percent% increased risk of dementia compared to those who were most active earlier in the afternoon. This suggests that a misalignment between the body's internal clock and the daily cycle of light and dark could play a role in dementia risk.

While the study shows a strong association, it does not prove that circadian disruptions cause dementia. However, the findings open new avenues for research. The authors suggest that disturbances in circadian rhythms might affect processes like inflammation or the brain's ability to clear harmful proteins linked to dementia.

This research highlights the potential importance of maintaining a regular daily routine. Future studies may explore whether interventions aimed at strengthening circadian rhythms, such as structured light therapy or specific lifestyle changes, could help reduce the risk of dementia, researchers said.

Compound in Chocolate, Coffee Linked to Slower Cellular Aging, Researchers Find

A new study reports that higher levels of theobromine -- a natural compound found in both chocolate and coffee -- may be linked to slower biological aging in humans.

The research, which analyzed blood samples from more than 1,600 people across two European cohorts, found that individuals with higher levels of theobromine had slower rates of epigenetic aging, measurable changes in DNA that indicate how quickly cells are aging.

Study Methods and Key Findings

Researchers measured theobromine levels in the blood using metabolomic tests and compared these with biological age markers called epigenetic clocks, specifically "GrimAge" and DNAmTL. These clocks estimate the rate of biological aging independent of actual years lived. The study included both the TwinsUK and KORA cohorts and controlled for factors such as age, body mass index (BMI), and intake of other similar compounds like caffeine.

The data showed that higher blood levels of theobromine were significantly associated with lower readings on these epigenetic clocks, indicating a slower biological aging process. The effect was specific to theobromine and did not appear with caffeine or other related compounds. The finding was consistent across both study populations.

The study also noted that this association was stronger in people who smoked, though the authors caution this does not reduce the health risks of smoking.

What is Theobromine?

Theobromine is a plant-based chemical found in high concentrations in cocoa and dark chocolate. It is related to caffeine but has a milder stimulant effect. Previous research has linked theobromine with potential health benefits, such as improved blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

These results suggest that dietary theobromine could be linked to healthier aging at the cellular level. However, the research stops short of recommending chocolate as a treatment or preventive measure. Instead, it provides evidence for further study on how dietary components, like theobromine, may influence human aging.

While there are no official recommendations on the amount of theobromine to consume, dark chocolate with higher cocoa content generally has greater theobromine levels and less added sugar compared to milk chocolate.

Further research is needed to understand how theobromine might be used for promoting healthy aging, and whether it can have practical benefits beyond these associations, researchers said.