Overview

NCI research on cancer survivorship focuses on questions addressing the health, function and quality of life of a person with a history of cancer once active treatment ends. Issues related to the follow-up care for and health behaviors of survivors as well as the well-being of their family members and caregivers are also addressed. More and more people are benefiting from the early detection of cancer and its successful treatment. While medical advances are improving both quality of life and length of survival, permitting many survivors to continue full and productive lives at home and at work, evidence suggests that there are "costs" to these advances. As a consequence of their illness, many survivors deal with psychosocial issues that affect their school and work performance, finances, sexual health, and self-identity. Along with impressive gains in cancer survival may also come "late effects," side effects of cancer treatment that only become apparent in the long term, months or even years later. These can include increased risk of second cancers, cardiac dysfunction, lymphedema, loss of fertility, learning impairments, and amputations that compromise mobility.

There are an estimated 10.8 million cancer survivors in the United States as of January 1, 2004, approximately 3.6 percent of the total population.
55 percent (5.9 million) of these survivors are female.
More than two-thirds of people diagnosed with cancer can expect to live for five years or longer.
Approximately 14 percent of cancer survivors were diagnosed over 20 years ago.
For children diagnosed with cancer, five-year overall survival exceeds 75 percent.

Statistics

Cancer statistics related to cancer survivorship.

Estimated Number of Female Cancer Survivors in the U.S. by Site.
(Invasive/1st Primary Cases Only, N = 5.9 million)

*Hematologic cancers include Leukemia, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, and Hodgkins Lymphoma

Data source: 2006 Submission. U.S. estimated cancer prevalence counts were estimated by applying U.S. populations to SEER 9 and historical Connecticut Limited Duration Prevalence proportions and adjusted to represent complete prevalence. Populations from January 2004 were based on the average of 2003 and 2004 population estimates from the U.S. Bureau of the Census.

NCI Research on Cancer Survivorship

Information about NCI-funded grants, clinical trials, and other programs and initiatives with components that target cancer survivorship issues.