Deaths related to cancer in America have significantly dropped over the past two decades, as more people are beating the disease.

The rates of cancer-related deaths in America have dropped by 22 percent, which is equal to about 1.5 million people. The statistics were reported in an annual American Cancer Society survey. 

Doctors are cheering to the feat of saving upwards of a million lives, but they can't let this accomplishment keep them from moving forward and learning how to make that number continue to increase. 

"The continuing drops we're seeing in cancer mortality are reason to celebrate, but not to stop," John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society, said in a press statement. 

Some other factors - other than an increased knowledge of the disease and medicine - that are often attributed to the increased cancer survival rate are earlier detection of the disease, better screening practices, improved treatments and lower rates of smoking. 

Despite the big steps doctors and researchers are taking towards the cure of cancer, the disease still remains a leading killer. 

"Cancer was responsible for nearly one in four deaths in the United States in 2011, making it the second leading cause of death overall. It is already the leading cause of death among adults aged 40 to 79, and is expected to overtake heart disease as the leading cause of death among all Americans within the next several years," Seffrin said in the press statement. "The change may be inevitable, but we can still lessen cancer's deadly impact by making sure as many Americans as possible have access to the best tools to prevent, detect, and treat cancer."