Cancer is a major public health issue in the US and globally. This report provides 1997 cancer incidence, mortality, and survival statistics. New cancer cases were estimated using population data and cancer incidence data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. A quadratic model was used to project 1997 cases, with adjustments for sites with changing incidence rates. For states without sufficient data, cancer deaths were used to estimate new cases. Cancer deaths were estimated using data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), with a quadratic model and adjustments for changing mortality rates. In 1997, about 1.38 million new invasive cancer cases were expected in the US, excluding certain skin cancers. Among women, breast, lung, and colon/rectum cancers were most common, accounting for over 50% of new cases. Breast cancer alone accounted for 30% of new cases. Among men, prostate, lung, and colon/rectum cancers were most common, with prostate cancer leading. Prostate cancer incidence increased sharply between 1990 and 1997. Cancer deaths were estimated at about 560,000 in 1997. Among women, lung, breast, and colon/rectum cancers accounted for over half of deaths, with lung cancer leading. Breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer death in women before 1987, but lung cancer now leads. Among men, lung, prostate, and colon/rectum cancers were most common, with lung cancer leading. Prostate cancer mortality increased less than incidence. Limitations include potential inaccuracies due to varying trends and data gaps. Trends since 1993 are not reflected, and some estimates may not reflect past fluctuations. Despite these, the estimates provide insight into current cancer patterns. Prevention, screening, and treatment efforts are needed to reduce cancer burden. References are provided for data sources and methods. Tables and figures show detailed data on cancer cases and deaths by sex, site, age, and race.Cancer is a major public health issue in the US and globally. This report provides 1997 cancer incidence, mortality, and survival statistics. New cancer cases were estimated using population data and cancer incidence data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. A quadratic model was used to project 1997 cases, with adjustments for sites with changing incidence rates. For states without sufficient data, cancer deaths were used to estimate new cases. Cancer deaths were estimated using data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), with a quadratic model and adjustments for changing mortality rates. In 1997, about 1.38 million new invasive cancer cases were expected in the US, excluding certain skin cancers. Among women, breast, lung, and colon/rectum cancers were most common, accounting for over 50% of new cases. Breast cancer alone accounted for 30% of new cases. Among men, prostate, lung, and colon/rectum cancers were most common, with prostate cancer leading. Prostate cancer incidence increased sharply between 1990 and 1997. Cancer deaths were estimated at about 560,000 in 1997. Among women, lung, breast, and colon/rectum cancers accounted for over half of deaths, with lung cancer leading. Breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer death in women before 1987, but lung cancer now leads. Among men, lung, prostate, and colon/rectum cancers were most common, with lung cancer leading. Prostate cancer mortality increased less than incidence. Limitations include potential inaccuracies due to varying trends and data gaps. Trends since 1993 are not reflected, and some estimates may not reflect past fluctuations. Despite these, the estimates provide insight into current cancer patterns. Prevention, screening, and treatment efforts are needed to reduce cancer burden. References are provided for data sources and methods. Tables and figures show detailed data on cancer cases and deaths by sex, site, age, and race.