The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2013, there will be 1,660,290 new cancer cases and 580,350 cancer deaths in the United States. Over the past five years (2005-2009), cancer incidence rates declined slightly in men (0.6% per year) and remained stable in women, while cancer death rates decreased by 1.8% per year in men and 1.5% per year in women. Overall, cancer death rates have dropped by 20% from their peak in 1991 to 2009. Death rates continue to decline for the four major cancer sites: lung, colorectum, breast, and prostate. The largest annual declines in death rates over the past decade were observed for chronic myeloid leukemia, cancers of the stomach, colorectum, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The reduction in overall cancer death rates since 1990 in men and 1991 in women has resulted in the avoidance of approximately 1.18 million deaths, with 152,900 of these deaths averted in 2009 alone. Further progress can be accelerated by applying existing cancer control knowledge across all segments of the population, with a focus on disadvantaged groups.The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2013, there will be 1,660,290 new cancer cases and 580,350 cancer deaths in the United States. Over the past five years (2005-2009), cancer incidence rates declined slightly in men (0.6% per year) and remained stable in women, while cancer death rates decreased by 1.8% per year in men and 1.5% per year in women. Overall, cancer death rates have dropped by 20% from their peak in 1991 to 2009. Death rates continue to decline for the four major cancer sites: lung, colorectum, breast, and prostate. The largest annual declines in death rates over the past decade were observed for chronic myeloid leukemia, cancers of the stomach, colorectum, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The reduction in overall cancer death rates since 1990 in men and 1991 in women has resulted in the avoidance of approximately 1.18 million deaths, with 152,900 of these deaths averted in 2009 alone. Further progress can be accelerated by applying existing cancer control knowledge across all segments of the population, with a focus on disadvantaged groups.