Five-Year US Trends in the North American Cancer Survival Index, 2005-2014

Introduction: Progress in U.S. 5-year survival trends for all cancers combined was assessed using the North American Cancer Survival Index, a sum of age-, sex-, and cancer site-standardized relative survival ratios. Methods: In January 2019, authors calculated 5-year cancer survival indices and 95% CIs by race and sex for 2005-2011, 2006-2012, 2007-2013, and 2008-2014 diagnosis cohorts with data from 42 cancer registries. Results: Overall 5-year survival increased from 63.5% (95% CI=63.4, 63.5) in 2005-2011 to 64.1% (95% CI=64.1, 64.2) in 2008-2014. Survival increased 0.9 and 0.5 percentage points in female and male patients, respectively; the survival disparity among blacks versus whites decreased by 0.5%. In 2008-2014, the Cancer Survival Index was 7.7% higher for whites (64.6%; 95% CI=64.6, 64.7) than for blacks (56.9%; 95% CI=56.7, 57.1). Conclusions: Cancer Survival Index survival estimates increased among all race and sex subpopulations during 2005-2014. A substantial but decreasing survival gap persisted between blacks and whites. The Cancer Survival Index can assist decision makers and others in comparing cancer survival among populations and over time and in monitoring progress toward national cancer surveillance objectives. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Journal of Preventive Medicine.