These new data update the survival estimates published in 2016 and supplement the summaries published in November 2020 and January 2021. These are the first survival estimates for the histological subtypes of lung, ovarian, and testicular cancers, as well as for five hematologic malignancies. Pleural mesothelioma is also included among these 37 sites.

The summary documents for each cancer site are being published throughout 2021. A final phase of publications is expected in the coming months. In total, summaries for 73 types and subtypes of cancer will be made available online.

37 cancer sites studied

For each of the 37 cancer sites, the results describe:

• 1-year and 5-year survival rates for individuals diagnosed between 2010 and 2015, followed through 2018,

• trends in 1-, 5-, and 10-year survival for individuals diagnosed between 1989 and 2015 and followed through 2018,

• 20-year survival for individuals under the age of 75 at the time of diagnosis between 1989 and 2000, and followed through 2018.

Solid tumors: 5 cancers with poor prognosis and little notable improvement in 5-year net survival

Five cancers continue to have a poor or very poor prognosis: the three histological subtypes of lung cancer (adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and small cell lung cancer), pleural mesothelioma, and gallbladder and bile duct cancer.

Small cell lung cancer has the lowest 5-year net survival rate at 7% for the 2010–2015 period, and has also seen the smallest improvement (+3 percentage points since 1990).

Seminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis had the highest net survival rate for the 2010–2015 period, with a 97% 5-year net survival rate. Between 1990 and 2015, sarcomas—and in particular soft tissue sarcoma (+19 percentage points)—experienced the largest increase in net survival.

Malignant hematologic diseases: encouraging trends, particularly for chronic myeloid leukemia

Among the 16 malignant hematological diseases (MHDs) presented, 8 had 5-year net survival rates exceeding 80% over the 2010–2015 period. Polycythemia vera had the highest 5-year net survival rate during this period (93%), while chronic myeloid leukemia saw the largest increase between 1990 and 2015 (+40 percentage points). The improvement in survival observed for several HM is linked to the emergence of a new therapeutic arsenal since the 2000s.

In contrast, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and other myelodysplastic syndromes have the lowest 5-year net survival rate, at 45% over the 2010–2015 period.

Despite encouraging, even very encouraging, trends for certain tumors or hematologic disorders such as chronic myeloid leukemia, several cancers in 2015 still had a very poor prognosis (lung cancer, regardless of subtype) and/or showed no notable improvement in recent years. These results highlight the importance of regularly measuring these survival indicators and their trends, continuing prevention efforts, and promoting research.