In 1996, the American Cancer Society reported that the overall age-adjusted cancer mortality rate declined in each succeeding year from 1990 to 1995 for a total reduction of about 3.1%. This was the first sustained decline since national record keeping was instituted in the 1930s.

A major reduction occurred in lung carcinoma, which declined by 3.9%. Other smoking-related cancers declined by about 2%. The 5-year case fatality declined by approximately 0.5% per year from 1950–1954 to 1986–1991 for forms of cancer for which lead-time bias could be largely excluded.