Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women, accounting for nearly one in four female cancer diagnoses worldwide. In the United States alone, an estimated 321,910 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2026. But breast cancer is only part of the picture. Several other cancers affect women at high rates, and a few that don’t make the “most common” list still rank among the deadliest.
The Top 10 Cancers in Women by New Cases
Based on 2026 estimates from the National Cancer Institute’s SEER program, the most common cancers diagnosed in U.S. women are:
- Breast: 321,910 new cases
- Lung and bronchus: 118,500
- Colon and rectum: 74,690
- Uterine: 68,270
- Melanoma of the skin: 46,600
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: 35,550
- Pancreatic: 32,340
- Thyroid: 32,000
- Kidney: 29,680
- Leukemia: 28,720
Globally, the ranking shifts slightly. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, with over 662,000 new cases in 2022. It falls off the U.S. top 10 largely because of widespread screening and HPV vaccination, but it remains a major threat in low- and middle-income countries.
Most Common vs. Most Deadly
The cancers that affect the most women aren’t always the ones that kill the most. Lung cancer, despite ranking second in new diagnoses, is the leading cause of cancer death in women, with an estimated 61,950 deaths in 2026. That’s nearly 50% more than breast cancer’s 42,140 estimated deaths. Pancreatic cancer tells a similar story: it ranks seventh in new cases but third in deaths (25,510), reflecting how difficult it is to detect early and treat effectively.
Ovarian cancer doesn’t even crack the top 10 for new diagnoses, yet it’s the sixth leading cause of cancer death in women, with an estimated 12,450 deaths. The reason is timing. When ovarian cancer is caught while still localized, the five-year survival rate is about 92%. But most cases aren’t found until the cancer has spread, when survival drops to roughly 32%.
Breast Cancer
About 13% of women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime, or roughly 1 in 8. That makes it the single most common cancer diagnosis across both U.S. and global populations. It’s also the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide, though in the U.S. it ranks second behind lung cancer. The gap between how many women get breast cancer and how many die from it reflects the impact of early detection through mammography and advances in treatment. Most breast cancers found at an early, localized stage have five-year survival rates above 99%.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer has traditionally been associated with older men who smoke, but that profile is changing. Nearly 20% of new lung cancer diagnoses now occur in people who have never smoked, and they are mostly women. Each year, between 20,000 and 40,000 lung cancers in the U.S. are diagnosed in people who never smoked or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime.
Researchers are still working to understand why nonsmoking women are increasingly affected. Possible contributors include secondhand smoke, radon exposure, air pollution, and genetic factors. What’s clear is that lung cancer should be on every woman’s radar, not just those with a smoking history.
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in women both in the U.S. and globally. It’s also trending younger. Cases among adults under 50 have been rising for more than two decades, prompting a shift in screening guidelines. Most experts now recommend starting colorectal cancer screening at age 45, continuing through at least age 75. If you have a family history or other risk factors, your screening timeline may start earlier.
Uterine Cancer
Uterine cancer, sometimes called endometrial cancer because it typically starts in the lining of the uterus, is the fourth most common cancer in U.S. women. Its incidence has been climbing, and researchers have identified a clear link to rising obesity rates. Obesity rates among all women have been increasing roughly 4.6% per year since 1988, and severe obesity rates have been rising even faster, at over 9% annually. The connection between the two disproportionately affects younger women and women of color.
Excess body fat increases levels of estrogen, which can fuel the growth of uterine lining cells. Unusual vaginal bleeding, especially after menopause, is the most recognizable early symptom. Because there’s no routine screening test for uterine cancer, paying attention to that warning sign is critical.
Melanoma
Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer diagnosed in U.S. women, with an estimated 46,600 new cases in 2026. Women develop melanoma at a rate of about 18 per 100,000, and it’s far more common among non-Hispanic white women. Exposure to natural or artificial ultraviolet light, including tanning beds, is the primary modifiable risk factor. Unlike many internal cancers, melanoma is visible on the skin, making regular skin checks one of the simplest forms of early detection.
Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer affects women at nearly three times the rate it affects men, with about 20 new cases per 100,000 women compared to 7.4 per 100,000 men. It’s most frequently diagnosed between ages 45 and 64, with a median diagnosis age of 51. The good news is that thyroid cancer tends to grow slowly and responds well to treatment. Many thyroid cancers have five-year survival rates above 95%, making it one of the most treatable cancers on this list despite its relatively high incidence.
Cervical Cancer and HPV Vaccination
Cervical cancer is largely preventable, and the data proves it. Among women ages 20 to 24, the age group most likely to have been vaccinated against HPV, the rate of cervical precancers dropped 79% between 2008 and 2022. Among women ages 25 to 29, higher-grade precancer rates fell by 37%. These are dramatic reductions driven almost entirely by a vaccine that targets the strains of HPV responsible for most cervical cancers.
In the U.S., routine screening with Pap tests and HPV tests has also pushed cervical cancer out of the top 10 for new cases. Globally, the picture is different. Cervical cancer remains the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, with over 662,000 new cases in 2022, concentrated in regions where vaccination and screening are less accessible.
Cancers That Don’t Rank High but Hit Hard
Pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer deserve attention even though neither tops the incidence charts. Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. overall, and the third leading cause among women specifically. It rarely causes symptoms until it has advanced, and treatment options at late stages remain limited.
Ovarian cancer follows a similar pattern. It lacks a reliable screening test, and its early symptoms, things like bloating, pelvic pain, and feeling full quickly, are easy to dismiss as everyday discomfort. Persistent, unexplained changes in these areas, especially if they’re new and happen almost daily for more than a few weeks, are worth bringing up with a doctor. The gap between a 92% survival rate when caught early and a 32% rate when caught late underscores how much detection timing matters.