Blood cancers—like leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma—are currently experiencing faster improvements in survival rates than many solid cancers. This trend is driven by rapid advances in treatments, including targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and a stream of new drugs emerging in the past decade. In recent years, five-year survival rates for blood cancers have climbed sharply, with particularly notable gains in myeloma and various forms of leukemia and lymphoma. For example, in England, myeloma’s five-year survival increased by more than 9 percentage points in just six years, while leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma made similarly impressive strides.

Blood Cancers: Prognosis and Progress

Blood cancers have seen remarkable improvements in survival due to the swift introduction of novel therapies. About 60% of people diagnosed with a blood cancer are now expected to live at least five years, and some subtypes—like chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)—are approaching or exceeding five-year survival rates of 70-90% for many patients, especially younger ones. Ten- and twenty-year survival statistics are also rising, and the outlook continues to improve as treatments evolve. However, despite the progress, blood cancers remain a leading cause of cancer death, and certain subtypes—like acute myeloid leukemia in older adults—still carry a much poorer prognosis.

Solid Cancers: Slower Gains, Variable Outcomes

By comparison, solid tumors—such as lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers—are seeing more modest increases in survival rates. Over similar periods, five-year survival for lung, breast, prostate, and bowel cancer increased by only 1-5 percentage points. The prognosis for solid cancers varies dramatically based on cancer type and stage at diagnosis: breast and prostate cancer commonly have five-year survival rates above 90%, whereas lung and pancreatic cancers often remain below 20% due to later diagnoses and fewer curative treatment options.

The Bottom Line

In summary, the prognosis for blood cancers is improving more quickly than for most solid cancers, thanks to a surge of effective therapies, especially for younger patients and specific subtypes. Solid tumors progress more slowly, but outcomes are strong for some cancer types, particularly when detected early. Continued research is critical to closing survival gaps—both within blood cancers and between blood and solid tumors—ensuring every diagnosis brings hope for a longer, healthier future.