The National Cancer Institute’s Office of Cancer Survivorship recently issued the following data:
- As of January 2014, it is estimated that there are 14.5 million cancer survivors in the United States. This represents over 4% of the population, according to a report published
recently.1 - The number of cancer survivors is projected to increase by 31%, to almost 19 million, by 2024, which represents an increase of more than 4 million survivors in 10 years.1
- Over the next decade, the number of people who have lived 5 years or more after their cancer diagnosis is projected to increase approximately 37%, to 11.9 million.2
- Further, 64% of survivors have survived 5 years or more after diagnosis; 41% have survived 10 years or more; and 15% have survived 20 years or more.1
- Overall, 60% of survivors are currently 65 years of age and older.1
- Among today’s survivors, the most common cancer sites represented include female breast (22%), prostate (21%), colon/rectum (9%), and gynecologic organs (7%).1
For more information, visit the Office of Cancer Survivorship at http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/ocs/. ■
References
1. DeSantis C, et al: Cancer treatment and survivorship statistics, 2014. CA Cancer J Clin 64:252-271, 2014.
2. de Moor JS, et al: Cancer survivors in the United States. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 22:561-570, 2013.
