The Number of Cancer Survivors on the Rise in the United States

September 2012, Vol 3, No 6

A recent report titled “Cancer Treatment & Survivorship—Facts & Figures, 2012-2012” was released earlier this year by the American Cancer Society, in association with the National Cancer Institute. According to this report, approximately 13.7 million Americans are alive in 2012 who have survived cancer. The researchers suggest that this number will reach 18 million by 2022. For this analysis, everyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer by January 1, 2012, was counted as a cancer survivor.

Overall, according to this report, the numbers of new cases of cancer are decreasing, and the numbers of people who survive a cancer diagnosis are increasing in the United States, in part as a result of the aging population and the overall growth of the US population, and in part thanks to improved anticancer treatments. The authors of the report urge cancer CARE providers to pay greater attention to the needs of cancer survivors and their caregivers, including medical, psychological, and social needs. “As more people survive cancer, it is vital that healthcare providers are aware of the special needs of cancer patients and caregivers,” said senior author of the report Elizabeth R. Ward, PhD, National Vice President of Intramural Research.

The most common types of cancer survivors among men are prostate cancer (43%), colorectal cancer (9%), and melanoma (7%). The 3 most common cancers among female survivors are breast cancer (41%), uterine cancer (8%), and colorectal cancer (8%).

The median age of patients at the time of cancer diagnosis is 66 years. This may explain why the majority of cancer survivors are older people: 45% of all cancer survivors are aged ≥70 years. By contrast, only 5% are aged <40 years. Childhood cancer represents only <1% of new cancer diagnoses; however, it is the second leading cause of death in children, after accidents. In 2012, there are 58,510 survivors of childhood cancer in the United States, and 12,060 new cases are expected to be diagnosed by the end of the year. American Cancer Society; June 14, 2012.

Related Articles