Gallup Survey Finds Nearly 1 in 10 U.S. Adults Report Cancer Diagnosis in Lifetime

WASHINGTON — Nearly 10% of American adults report having been diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, marking the highest figure since Gallup began tracking the disease nearly 17 years ago, according to a survey released Monday.

The Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index found that 9.7% of U.S. adults reported a cancer diagnosis in 2024-25, up from 7% in 2008-09. The rate has gradually increased over the years, with previous figures of 8.3% in 2018-19, 8.5% in 2020-21, and 8.9% in 2022-23. The data is based on responses to the question, “Has a doctor or nurse ever told you that you have cancer?”

The latest survey included responses from 16,949 adults in 2023 and an additional 23,969 adults in 2024, all surveyed online. The margin of sampling error is approximately plus or minus 0.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

Gallup analyst Dan Withers noted that the cancer landscape in the U.S. presents a mixed picture. While mortality rates are declining and survival after diagnosis is improving, the aging population and the growing number of individuals living post-remission or post-treatment are increasing demands on the healthcare system. These individuals often require ongoing medical care, including specialist visits, scans, and management of long-term effects.

The survey results contrast with data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reported a 4% decrease in cancer incidence rates from 2013 to 2022. Similarly, the American Cancer Society documented a 1.7% annual decline in cancer death rates during the same period and an increase in the five-year relative survival rate from 63% in 1995-1997 to 69% in 2014-2020.

Certain cancer types, however, have shown increases, particularly among younger adults. National Institutes of Health researchers identified rising rates in 14 cancer types among people under 50 between 2010 and 2019, while 19 other types decreased.

Withers emphasized that the rising percentage of Americans with a cancer diagnosis is largely attributable to demographic shifts rather than an increase in new cases. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2034, adults aged 65 and older will outnumber those under 18 for the first time.

Cancer prevalence among older adults has increased notably since 2008-09, with 21.5% of those 65 and older reporting a diagnosis, up 3.4 percentage points. Adults aged 45 to 64 saw an 8.9% prevalence, a 1.5-point increase. In contrast, prevalence among adults under 45 has remained relatively stable.

The survey also revealed racial disparities: White adults reported the highest lifetime cancer diagnosis rate at 10.9%, followed by Black adults at 7.8%, Hispanic adults at 5.4%, and Asian adults at 3.2%. The increases since 2008-09 were similar across these groups.

Men reported a slightly higher lifetime cancer diagnosis rate (9.8%) than women (9.6%). Declines in lung and prostate cancer among men, attributed to reduced smoking rates and widespread PSA testing, have contributed to these trends. Among women, breast cancer mortality continues to decline but at a slower pace than in previous decades, and lung cancer mortality has decreased more modestly compared to men.

The findings underscore the growing need for healthcare resources, including government-supported programs such as the Affordable Care Act, which currently covers over 24 million people. Enhanced subsidies for the program are set to end this year, raising concerns about future coverage.

Withers highlighted the importance of understanding these trends for public policy planning, especially given the expected rise in cancer diagnoses as the population ages.

The Gallup survey reflects a complex cancer landscape marked by improved survival and ongoing healthcare challenges related to an aging population and long-term management of the disease.