Cancer A Closer Look at the Top 5 Deadliest Cancers By Naveed Saleh, MD, MS twitter linkedin Naveed Saleh, MD, MS, is a medical writer and editor covering new treatments and trending health news. Learn about our editorial process Naveed Saleh, MD, MS Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD on November 01, 2019 Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Doru Paul, MD Updated on July 14, 2021 Print Cancer cells divide, grow, and spread throughout the body. If physicians are unable to control the spread or metastases of cancer cells, death results. Various factors, both internal and external, cause cancer. Internal factors include genetic mutations, hormones, and immune conditions. External factors include smoking, unhealthy diet, and infectious disease. Often, it takes several years before such risk factors lead to cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2021, an estimated 1.9 million new cases of cancer and 608,570 cancer deaths are expected among Americans. Here are the five deadliest cancers. Lung Cancer Science Photo Library / Getty Images Projected cases of lung and bronchus cancer in 2021: 235,760 Projected deaths caused by lung and bronchus cancer in 2021: 131,880 Unfortunately, most people with lung cancer initially present with advanced disease and will eventually die of the disease. Smoking—a modifiable risk factor—is far and away from the most common cause of lung cancer. Based on microscopic examination, lung cancer is divided into two types—small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Depending on the type and stage of lung cancer, treatment can include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Lung Cancer Colorectal Cancer Mohammed Haneefa Nizamudeen / Getty Images Projected cases of colorectal cancer in 2021: 149,500 Projected deaths caused by colon cancer in 2021: 52,980 Initially, colorectal cancer presents with few or no symptoms. If caught early, colorectal cancer is treatable and has encouraging five-year survival rates. For example, survival rates for people with early-stage colorectal cancer are around 90%. However, in order to survive colorectal cancer, screening like colonoscopy is imperative. Unfortunately, five-year survival rates for advanced colorectal cancer are much lower. Small, early-stage cancers may be removed completely during a colonoscopy. For larger tumors, surgery is the usual treatment, sometimes along with chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, and/or immunotherapy to shrink tumors and treat metastases. Colon Cancer vs. Colorectal Cancer Breast Cancer Vasyl Dolmatov / Getty Images Projected cases of female breast cancer in 2021: 281,550 Projected deaths caused by female breast cancer in 2021: 43,600 Projected cases of male breast cancer in 2021: 2,650 Projected deaths caused by male breast cancer in 2021: 530 Breast cancer is caused by the malignant growth of cells lining the lobules or ducts of the breast. About 1% of all breast cancers affect men. Typically, it takes time for cells to become fully malignant and invade and metastasize. The treatment of breast cancer can get quite complicated and is based on numerous factors. Broadly, breast cancer treatment can be characterized as extensive (mastectomy) or breast-conserving (lumpectomy). In addition to local surgical therapy, adjuvant or systemic therapy is also given to treat people with breast cancer. Such adjuvant therapy can include chemotherapy or hormone therapy. Fortunately, with improvements in diagnostic and treatment capabilities, more people who are diagnosed with breast cancer survive. How Breast Cancer Is Treated Pancreatic Cancer magicmine / Getty Images Projected cases of pancreatic cancer in 2021: 60,430 Projected deaths caused by pancreatic cancer in 2021: 48,220 Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers in existence. It kills quickly and causes multiple painful and dangerous symptoms including stomach pain, biliary obstruction, bleeding, ascites, and more. While there are currently no reliable screening options for pancreatic cancer, people who are at high risk due to genetics are advised to undergo routine endoscopic ultrasound and MRI/CT imaging. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for people with pancreatic cancer, followed by chemotherapy. The role of radiation remains controversial, although it is often used to shrink the tumor in those with inoperable pancreatic cancer. Surgery with the intent to cure is possible in only around one in five cases. Pancreatic Cancer Prostate Cancer Chinnapong/Getty Images Projected cases of prostate cancer in 2021: 248,530 Projected deaths caused by prostate cancer in 2021: 34,130 The prostate is a gland found in the male genitourinary system. It sits in the middle of the lower pelvis nestled among the rectum and bladder. The prostate makes the seminal fluid which nourishes sperm. Prostate cancer arises from glandular cells and is thus an adenocarcinoma. This disease usually affects older men and is most common among African Americans and those with a family history of the disease. Most prostate cancers are slow-growing, and people with asymptomatic prostate cancer are usually observed with no further treatment. In fact, many people with prostate cancer die of unrelated causes like a heart attack or stroke. Although asymptomatic older men were once routinely screened for prostate cancer using digital rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, in recent years, many experts have debated the value of prostate screening. Treatment of prostate cancer includes surgical removal (prostatectomy), external beam radiation therapy (radiotherapy), and brachytherapy. Brachytherapy is a procedure in which radioactive iodine is implanted into the prostate. An Overview of Prostate Cancer Lower Your Risk Cancer is not always avoidable, but there are things you can do to reduce the risk even if you have non-modifiable risk factors like family history. According to the American Cancer Society, there are five things everyone should do to lower their risk of cancer: Get recommended cancer screenings. This includes screening tests for breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast, colon, endometrial, kidney, esophageal, and pancreatic cancer. Being physically active is important no matter your weight or age. Eat a healthy diet. This includes limiting red meats, processed meats, refined grains, and sweets. A healthy diet may help reduce the risk of colon, esophageal, stomach, and lung cancer. Limit alcohol. High alcohol consumption is linked to breast, colorectal, esophageal, oral, and liver cancer. Males should drink no more than two drinks per day, and females should consume no more than one drink per day. Quit smoking. Nearly one in three cancers are directly linked to smoking, including 80% of all lung cancer cases. If you smoke, speak with your doctor about smoking cessation aids, many of which may be fully covered by insurance. Frequently Asked Questions What is the deadliest form of skin cancer? Melanoma is the most deadly skin cancer, affecting over 100,000 people in the United States each year and killing over 7,000. When diagnosed in the early stages, melanoma has a five-year survival rate of 83%. But, if the cancer spreads to regional lymph nodes or distant organs, the five-year survival drops to 68% and 30% respectively. What is the deadliest cancer of the female reproductive system? Ovarian cancer that has the highest incidence and mortality rate. Around 21,000 new diagnoses and 13,000 deaths occur each year in the United States as a result of ovarian cancer. Though the overall five-year survival rate is 49%, the majority of cases occur when the tumor has already metastasized, dropping that survival rate to 30%. Which cancer is deadliest for women? Although breast cancer kills around 42,000 women in the United States each year, lung cancer is actually responsible for more deaths in women overall. Lung cancer is estimated to be responsible for over 161,000 deaths in women in 2021. Which cancer is deadliest for men? While prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States, lung cancer again accounts for more deaths overall. According to the National Cancer Institute, each year, around 119,000 men are diagnosed with lung cancer and 63,000 men die from it. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Limiting processed foods and red meats can help ward off cancer risk. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. Sign up and get your guide! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. 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