The five most deadly cancers

Any cancer diagnosis is scary. Learning you have one of the more deadly cancers can be even more terrifying.  

Although the overall cancer mortality rate has declined, certain cancers are more aggressive, have sneaky symptoms or limited treatment options. 

“Cancer is very prevalent and takes too many lives each year,” says Dr. Suchin Khanna, a hematologist and oncologist with Advocate Health Care. “Luckily, increased awareness and medical advancements have allowed us to catch cancer sooner and before it becomes advanced, incurable or harder to treat.”  

These five cancers have the highest rates of death in the U.S. by sheer volume:  

1. Lung cancer  

Lung cancer is an aggressive disease that usually develops in the airways (bronchi) or in the tiny air sacs (alveoli). The disease is often divided into two types — small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with treatment including surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy or radiation therapy. Smoking is considered the most common cause of lung cancer – though, there are other factors.  

2. Colorectal cancer  

Colorectal cancer most often starts as a growth, called polyps, in the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Treatment depends on the stage of cancer but can include surgery to remove the affected part of the colon or rectum, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy and sometimes immunotherapy. Regular colonoscopy screenings are the best way to prevent this cancer.   

3. Pancreatic cancer  

Pancreatic cancer is an extremely aggressive cancer that starts in the pancreas and most often forms when exocrine cells, which make up the pancreatic glands and ducts, grow out of control. This cancer moves and kills quickly since the disease is often advanced by the time many people develop symptoms.

Treatment options vary by cancer stage but include surgery and/or chemotherapy. Radiation can be an option as well. 

4. Breast cancer  

Breast cancer develops in the lining of the lobules or ducts of one or both breasts and most often occurs in middle-aged and older women.  

Treatment options can include extensive mastectomy surgeries, breast-conserving surgeries, known as a lumpectomy, radiation therapies, chemotherapies, hormone therapies, biological therapies, targeted therapies and immunotherapies. The best preventive method is to keep up with recommended mammograms and other imaging. 

5. Prostate cancer  

Prostate cancer begins when the gland’s cells start to grow out of control. Men who are older, Black and/or have a family history of the disease are most at risk. People with this cancer may not always show symptoms right away.  

Treatment options include a prostatectomy, the surgical removal of part or all of the prostate gland, external beam radiation therapy, brachytherapy, hormone therapies and sometimes chemotherapy. 

Can you control your cancer risk? 

“There’s a lot we can’t control when it comes to cancer,” says Dr. Khanna. “But we can control our general health through eating healthy, exercising and avoiding harmful habits, such as smoking and drinking alcohol. We can also be proactive in following guidelines for cancer screenings so we can catch cancer earlier when there is typically a better prognosis.” 

Take a free quiz to find out your breast, colon or lung cancer risk. Or find a cancer expert in Illinois or Wisconsin.