Pancreatic Cancer Diagnoses and Mortality Rates Rise

The recent American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics, 2025 report was released revealing a sobering trend for pancreatic cancer. Despite increases over the past three years, the five-year relative survival rate for pancreatic cancer remains flat at 13%, and just 8% for people diagnosed with the most common form of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic adenocarcinoma. 

According to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics, 2025, report, an estimated 67,440 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2025, and an estimated 51,980 are predicted to die from the disease this year.While overall cancer mortality is decreasing, the annual report highlights that pancreatic cancer remains the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Evidence suggests that it is on track to become the second-leading cause in the coming years. The five-year relative survival for Black people with pancreatic cancer is lower at 11%, consistent with the disparities seen for cancer overall.

As one of the five most lethal cancers, pancreatic cancer, unlike lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer, is the only one that does not have a standard screening strategy. The lack of progress highlights the need for focused research efforts to narrow the gap between outcomes from pancreatic cancer and other major cancer types. 

There is good news. Overall, cancer mortality rates are decreasing. Although pancreatic cancer continues to lag behind, successes in other cancers can provide a roadmap and highlight focus areas that may have a positive impact on outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer in the years to come.

“While we’ve seen incremental progress in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, it’s sobering to know that pancreatic cancer survival has not increased and remains the only major cancer with a five-year survival rate below 20%,” said Anna Berkenblit, M.D., MMSc, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at PanCAN. “The minimal improvement in survival in recent years is in part related to more people being diagnosed with incidentally detected, well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors, which are less aggressive than pancreatic adenocarcinomas. This highlights the need for screening and surveillance strategies for pancreatic adenocarcinoma as well as the need for better therapies, which will require more research funding.”

The bad news is that there continues to be a lack of research funding for an early detection strategy and better treatments for patients.

Dr. Berkenblit added, “I am hopeful that with the approval of new drugs for the treatment of diabetes and obesity, both of which are risk factors for pancreatic cancer, and the development of targeted therapies like RAS inhibitors for pancreatic cancer, we will begin to see improved outcomes in the years ahead.” 

Learn more about how you can help by reading the article: A Call to Action: Progress for Pancreatic Cancer Depends on You.