Cancer deaths in U.S. fell by 33% in 30 years, but alcohol remains a lesser-known risk factor

The United States has seen a 33% reduction in the overall cancer death rate from 1991 to 2021, according to the latest Cancer Progress Report.

The report, released Wednesday by the American Association for Cancer Research, estimates the decrease equates to about 4.1 million lives saved. 

The cancer death rate for children and adolescents has also declined 24% in the past two decades, the report found.