by American Cancer Society JUNE 11, 2019
There were more than 16.9 million Americans
with a history of cancer on January 1, 2019, a number that is projected to reach
more than 22.1 million by 2030 based on the growth and aging of the population
alone, according to estimates from Cancer Treatment and Survivorship
Statistics, 2019. The report is produced every three years by the American
Cancer Society in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute to help the
public health community better serve this growing population. It appears
in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, with a companion consumer
edition published as Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Facts & Figures.
The number of cancer survivors continues to
increase in the United States even as incidence rates are stable in women and
declining in men. This is due to a growing and aging population, as well as
increases in cancer survival due to advances in
treatment and early detection. The report uses the term "cancer
survivor" to describe a person who has a history of cancer,
from the time of diagnosis through the remainder of their life. However, it is
important to note that many people with a history of cancer do not embrace this
term.
The report estimates there are currently 8.1
million males and 8.8 million females in the U.S. with a history of cancer.
About two out of three cancer survivors (68%) were diagnosed five or more years
ago and nearly one in five (18%) was diagnosed 20 or more years ago. Nearly
two-thirds (64%) are aged 65 years or older. In addition, the report estimates
that in the U.S., there are 65,850 cancer survivors 14 years and under and
47,760 ages 15 to 19.
The three most prevalent cancers among men in
2019 are prostate (3,650,030), colon and rectum (776,120), and melanoma of the
skin (684,470). Among women, the top three prevalent cancers are breast
(3,861,520), endometrium (uterine corpus) (807,860), and colon and rectum
(768,650). Cancer prevalence figures differ from those for cancer incidence
because prevalence reflects not only occurrence but also survival and median
age at diagnosis. For example, lung cancer is the second most commonly
diagnosed cancer in men, but ranks eighth in prevalence, largely because of the
disease's poor overall survival.
The authors' estimate of the number of cancer
survivors in 2030 (22.1 million) is based on population projections produced by
the United States Census Bureau, using current incidence, mortality, and
survival rates. Changes in cancer occurrence and survival due to advances in
treatment and early detection could further impact cancer prevalence.
Many survivors cope with long-term physical
effects of treatment as well as psychological and socioeconomic sequelae.
Challenges also remain for survivors and their caregivers with regard to
navigating the health care system, including poor integration
of survivorship care between oncology and primary care settings, as well as
financial and other barriers to quality care, particularly among the medically
underserved.
"People with a history of cancer have
unique medical, psychosocial, and economic needs that require proactive
assessment and management by health care providers," said Robin
Yabroff, Ph.D., senior scientific director of Health Services Research and
co-author of the report. "Although there are growing numbers of tools that
can assist patients, caregivers, and clinicians in navigating the various
phases of cancer survivorship, further evidence-based resources are needed to
optimize care."
The report says identification of the best
practices for delivering quality rehabilitation and posttreatment cancer care
is needed and points to ongoing efforts by the American College of Surgeons,
the Alliance for Quality Psychosocial Cancer Care, and the American Cancer
Society. To this end, the American Cancer Society recently released a cancer survivorship blueprint to
establish priority areas for care delivery, research, education, and policy. In
addition, the American Cancer Society has produced guidelines for selected
cancer types to assist primary care and other clinicians in the provision of
posttreatment care for people with a history of cancer.
More information: Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Statistics, CA:
A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/fu …
l/10.3322/caac.21565
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