The State of Survivorship: Prevalence, Projections, & Gaps in Care
A new ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ (ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ) study reports on cancer survivorship¡ªand where treatment equity still falls short.
As of January 1, 2025, an estimated 18.6 million people in the United States were living?with a history of cancer (a group commonly referred to as cancer survivors), and by 2035, that group is expected to surpass? 22 million.
Why is the number rising? Experts point to two main reasons for this increase:
- The US population is growing and aging.
- People are living longer after a diagnosis of cancer because of improved early-detection methods that find cancer at stages when it is less complicated to treat and because of treatment advancements such as immunotherapy and targeted therapies.
Every 3 years, the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ (ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) collaborate to estimate cancer prevalence in a study published in the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ flagship publication, CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.?
The purpose of these estimates is to inform state and local cancer care organizations and providers, patient support programs and educators, advocates, and researchers?so they can allocate resources for?cancer control and survivorship planning to better serve the needs of all cancer survivors, whether they are currently receiving treatment, living with cancer, or receiving end-of-life care.?
Here, we elaborate on some key statistics and graphics from the report.
2025 Prevalence as of?January 1
For men, the 3 most prevalent cancers were prostate cancer (3.55 million survivors), melanoma of the skin?(817,000 male survivors), and colorectal cancer (730,000 male survivors).
For women, they were breast cancer (4.31 million female survivors), endometrial (uterine corpus) cancer (946,000 survivors), and thyroid cancer (860,000 female survivors).?
Understanding Cancer Prevalence and Survival
Cancer prevalence?refers to the number or percentage of people with a history of cancer as measured on a specified date. Prevalence?is affected by how often a cancer occurs (incidence) and by how long people normally live after a diagnosis (survival).
For instance, prostate and breast cancer each have a high prevalence because many people live a long time after they are diagnosed with one of those types of cancer.
In contrast, lung cancer, although?common, has lower prevalence than?non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a less common type of cancer. That¡¯s because people with?non-Hodgkin lymphoma?are likely to survive longer than those with lung cancer, so the prevalence is higher because there are more people living after a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma than after a diagnosis of lung cancer.
2035 Predictions
Out the top 10 most prevalent types of cancers, breast cancer has the largest projected growth for survivors¡ªbetween January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2035, the number of breast cancer survivors is expected to increase from 4.3 million to about 5.3 million.
Relative survival rate compares life expectancy of the people with a history of cancer (survivors) to people of the?same age, sex and race/ethnicity without cancer?to determine whether a type of cancer shortens the lifespan of cancer survivors.?
The most prevalent cancers vary by age.
Most cancer survivors (79%) are 60 and older. Cancers in the prostate, bladder, and lung skew older whereas testicular and thyroid cancers skew younger, with the majority of survivors younger than 65.
Cancer types with highest prevalence?in those older than 65?
In the bar chart below, calculating prevalence for survivors 65 and older involves adding the number of survivors 65 to 84 (blue segment) with the number of survivors 85 and older (red segment).
Prostate cancer. The majority (87%) of survivors were 65 and older, with less than 1% younger than 50.
Bladder cancer. About 86% of survivors were 65 and older.
Lung cancer. About 82% of survivors were 65 and older. ?
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Cancer Survivors by Age at Prevalence and Cancer Type as of January 1, 2025
This bar chart shows age at prevalence for 16 types of cancer as of January 1, 2025. Age at prevalence is the number of living people in the US with a history of a specific type of cancer (listed on the left) for a certain age group (shown by color). The bar chart is color coded to show each age range that was measured: yellow for survivors less than 50, green for those 50 through 64, blue for 65 through 84, and red for 85 and older.
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Cancer Survivors by Age at Prevalence and Cancer Type as of January 1, 2025
The table shows age of prevalence for 16 types of cancer as of January 1, 2025. That¡¯s the percentage of living people in the US who have ever been diagnosed with one of the listed cancer types, up to January 1, 2025.
All the percentages below are as of January 1, 2025.
Of all female breast cancer survivors as of January 1, 2025:
7% were younger than 50
26% were 50 to 64
56% were 65 to 84
11% were 85 or older
Of all colon and rectum cancer survivors:
6% were younger than 50
22% were 50 to 64
58% were 65 to 84
13% were 85 or older
Of all kidney and renal pelvis cancer survivors:
8% were younger than 50
25% were 50 to 64
58% were 65 to 84
9% were 85 or older
Of all leukemia survivors:
24% were younger than 50
20% were 50 to 64
47% were 65 to 84
8% were 85 or older
Of all liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer survivors:
6% were younger than 50
25% were 50 to 64
64% were 65 to 84
5% were 85 or older
Of all lung and bronchus cancer survivors:
2% were younger than 50
17% were 50 to 64
70% were 65 to 84
12% were 85 or older
Of all melanoma of the skin survivors:
12% were younger than 50
25% were 50 to 64
53% were 65 to 84
10% were 85 or older
Of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors:
11% were younger than 50
23% were 50 to 64
56% were 65 to 84
10% were 85 or older
Of all oral cavity and pharynx cancers survivors:
7% were younger than 50
26% were 50 to 64
59% were 65 to 84
8% were 85 or older
Of all ovarian cancer survivors:
11% were younger than 50
27% were 50 to 64
52% were 65 to 84
9% were 85 or older
Of all prostate cancer survivors:
Less than 1% were younger than 50
13% were 50 to 64
73% were 65 to 84
14% were 85 or older
Of all testicular cancer survivors:
44% were younger than 50
31% were 50 to 64
23% were 65 to 84
2% were 85 or older
Of all thyroid cancer survivors:
27% were younger than 50
32% were 50 to 64
37% were 65 to 84
4% were 85 or older
Of all urinary bladder survivors:
2% were younger than 50
13% were 50 to 64
68% were 65 to 84
18% were 85 or older
Of all cervical cancer (uterine cervix) survivors:
18% were younger than 50
29% were 50 to 64
44% were 65 to 84
9% were 85 or older
Of all endometrial cancer (uterine corpus) survivors:
5% were younger than 50
23% were 50 to 64
61% were 65 to 84
11% were 85 or older
Cancer types with highest prevalence in those younger than 65?
In the bar chart above, calculating prevalence for those younger than 65 involves adding the number of survivors 50 through 64 (green segment) with the number of survivors?younger than 50 (yellow segment).
Testicular. About 44% of survivors were younger than 50.
Melanoma. Nearly 2 out of 5 (37%) survivors were younger than 65, including 12% younger than 50 (that¡¯s 189,880 people in the US).
How long someone stays alive after a cancer diagnosis depends on their age and the cancer's stage when they receive the diagnosis.
Tracking how long survivors have lived since the cancer diagnosis helps the cancer team guide long-term care planning.?
Cancers with a high proportion of survivors diagnosed during the last 5 years
As shown by the numbers in the yellow segments of bar graph below (¡°Prevalence of Cancer Survivors by Cancer Type and Years Since Diagnosis"), some types of cancer¡ªbladder, liver, and lung¡ªhave many survivors who were diagnosed in the last 5 years.?
Those same cancers had lower and lower cancer prevalence for almost all subsequent age ranges.?The smaller and smaller percentages of survivors as the length of time after diagnosis means poor long-term outcomes¡ªfewer people live 10 years, 15 years, or 20 years after diagnosis.
For instance?, for survivors with a history of lung cancer:
- 56% were diagnosed in the last 5 years (yellow)
- 22% were diagnosed 5 to less than 10 years ago (green)
- 12% were diagnosed 10 to less than 20 years ago (blue)
- 5% diagnosed 15 to less than 20 years ago (red)
- 5% diagnosed 20 or more years ago (purple)
Cancers with a high proportion of survivors diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Almost half of people who have a history of cervical or testicular cancer in the US were diagnosed more than 20 years ago, which may illustrate a high survival rate.
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Prevalence of Cancer Survivors by Cancer Type and Years Since Diagnosis as of January 1, 2025
The numbers across this bar chart show the percentage of cancer survivors for 16 types of cancer as of January 1, 2025. The colors show the range of years since diagnosis: yellow for survivors diagnosed less than 5 years ago, green for survivors diagnosed 5 to less than 10 years ago, blue for survivors diagnosed 10 to less than 15 years ago, red for survivors diagnosed 15 to less than 20 years ago, and purple for cancer survivors diagnosed 20 or more years ago.?
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Cancer Survivors by Cancer Type and Years Since Diagnosis as of January 1, 2025
The bar chart shows the number of cancer survivors based on the number of years since diagnosis for 19 types of cancer as of January 1, 2025.
All the percentages below are as of January 1, 2025.
Of all female breast cancer survivors:
28% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
22% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
17% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
12% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
21% were diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all colon and rectum cancer survivors:
33% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
21% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
16% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
12% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
18% were diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all kidney and renal pelvis cancer survivors:
35% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
25% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
17% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
10% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
12% were diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all leukemia survivors:
31% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
21% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
15% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
10% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
24% were diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer survivors:
56% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
21% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
13% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
6% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
4% diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all lung and bronchus cancer survivors:
56% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
22% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
12% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
5% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
5% were diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all melanoma of the skin survivors:
28% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
21% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
16% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
11% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
24% were diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors:
31% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
22% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
16% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
11% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
29% diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all oral cavity and pharynx cancers survivors:
35% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
23% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
16% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
10% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
16% were diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all ovarian cancer survivors:
29% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
17% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
13% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
10% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
31% diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all prostate cancer survivors:
33% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
24% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
17% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
14% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
12% diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all testicular cancer survivors:
14% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
14% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
12% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
11% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
46% were diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all thyroid cancer survivors:
23% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
21% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
19% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
14% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
23% were diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all urinary bladder survivors:
40% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
24% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
15% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
9% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
12% were diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all cervical cancer (uterine cervix) survivors:
15% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
11% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
10% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
10% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
54% diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Of all endometrial cancer (uterine corpus) survivors:
30% were diagnosed less than 5 years ago
23% were diagnosed between 5 but less than 10 years ago
17% were diagnosed between 10 but less than 15 years ago
12% were diagnosed between 15 but less than 20 years ago
18% were diagnosed more than 20 years ago
Persistant Gaps in Cancer Care
The differences that exist in the distribution and quality of cancer treatment and survivorship care, as well as health insurance coverage, are complex and longstanding. Solving the issues of systemic inequities with access to health and social care resources for cancer survivors will require targeted, coordinated, and sustained efforts from national and state policymakers, governmental and private health systems, providers, and individuals.
When Treatment Isn¡¯t Equal
Even as more people survive cancer, the benefits of treatment are not shared equally. The Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Statistics 2025 report highlights racial and insurance-based disparities that affect access to treatment, quality of life during survivorship, and length of survival.
Colorectal cancer examples of racial and health insurance disparities from 2021
- Just 39% of Black patients with stage I rectal cancer received surgery, compared to 64% of White patients.?
- People without health insurance who had stage I colorectal cancer had lower 5-year survival rates than privately insured patients with more advanced (stage II) disease.
As the below graph, "Differences in Colorectal Cancer Survival by Health Insurance Coverage and Stage," shows, about 87% of people without health insurance (uninsured) who have a small, stage 1 coloretal cancer tumor (solid red line) survive for at least 5 years.
That red line for stage 1 in unsured people is very close to the dotted blue line above it showing higher survival for people with private insurance who have a larger tumor¡ªstage II.
Breast cancer examples of racial disparities in treatment from 2021:
These gaps are also stark in breast cancer treatment. Endocrine therapy, which reduces recurrence in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, was received by:
- 72% of White women with stage III disease compared to 65% of Black women
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Differences in Colorectal Cancer Survival by Health Insurance Coverage and Stage
This graph shows disparities in stage I and stage II colorectal cancer survival based on whether patients had private health insurance or no insurance. The x-axis shows survival time from 1 to 5 years, and the y-axis shows survival rate from 50% to 100%.
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Differences in Colorectal Cancer Survival by Health Insurance Coverage and Stage
The graph shows disparities in survival of colorectal cancer based on whether they had private health insurance or had no insurance for stage I or stage II. The x-axis shows survival time from 1 to 5 years, and the y-axis shows percentages of people who survived, from 50% to 100%.
Two types of insurance are shown for stage I and stage II cancer:
Private insurance, stage I colorectal cancer: The graphed line (shown as a blue solid line) starts at 100% survival at the point of diagnosis (0 years). Survival decreases slowly but steadily for the 5-year period, ending at about 95% survival.
Private insurance, stage II colorectal cancer: The graphed line (shown as a blue dotted line) starts at 100% survival at the point of diagnosis (0 years). Survival decreases more rapidly during the 5-year period than for stage I. For instance, at 3 years, private insurance for stage 1 was about 97% compared to about 94% for stage II. At 5 years, survival was about 92%.
Uninsured, stage I: The graphed line (shown as a red solid line) starts at 100% survival at the point of diagnosis (0 years). Survival decreases just a bit faster than private insurance for stage II and is about 90% at the end of 5 years.
Uninsured stage II: The graphed line (shown as a red-dotted line) starts at 100% survival at the point of diagnosis (0 years). Survival decreases the most rapidly for this group. For instance, at 3 years, survival is about 86%, and at 5 years, it¡¯s about 79%.
Endocrine therapy (also known as hormone therapy) is used to treat all stages of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. About 81% of women with such a tumor receive a type of endocrine therapy.??
Before surgery, endocrine therapy can be used to shrink cancer tumors.
After surgery, it may be used to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, and it may be used to reduce the risk of the cancer¡¯s recurrence or to treat cancer that has recurred.
An oncologist may use any of these prescription drugs for endocrine therapy:
- anastrozole (Arimidex)
- elacestrant (Orserdu)
- exemestane (Aromasin)
- fulvestrant (Faslodex)
- letrozole (Femara)
- tamoxifen
- toremifene (Fareston)
As the?below graph shows, at every stage, fewer Black women (tan bars) compared to White women (brown bars) receive endocrine therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancers. The disparity in drug receipt was particularly low for women with stage III disease, where 74% of White women received endocrine therapy compared to only 65% of Black women.
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Percentage of Women with Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Who Received Endocrine Therapy, by Race and Stage, 2021
The y-axis of the bar graph shows the percentage of women who are survivors of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer from 0% to 100%. The x-axis lists the cancer¡¯s stage, starting with all stages, then stage 1 through stage IV. Color-coded bar graphs show the percentage of women at each stage receiving endocrine therapy: gray for all races/ethnicities, brown for White survivors, and tan for Black survivors.
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Percentage of Women with Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Who Received Endocrine Therapy, By Race and Stage, 2021
The y-axis of the bar graph shows the percentage of women who are survivors of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer from 0% to 100%. The x-axis lists the cancer¡¯s stage starting with? all stages, then stage 1 through stage IV. Color-coded bar graphs show the percentage of women at each stage receiving endocrine therapy: gray for all races/ethnicities, brown for White survivors, and tan for Black survivors.
All stages
All races/ethnicities: 81%
White women: 81%
Black women: 77%
Stage I
All races/ethnicities: 83%
White women: 84%
Black women: 82%
Stage II
All races/ethnicities:76%
White women: 78%
Black women: 70%
Stage III
All races/ethnicities: 72%
White women: 74%
Black women: 65%
Stage IV
All races/ethnicities: 76%
White women: 77%
Black women: 71%
Authors of Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Statistics, 2025, concluded:
Differences are influenced by longstanding societal and health care system factors, including fragmentation in health care delivery, inadequate survivorship care coordination, clinician shortages, lack of workforce diversity, gaps in survivor-focused research, and insufficient evidence-based guidelines for posttreatment care.
Addressing these disparities, the authors continued, ¡°will require sustained, coordinated action across multiple levels¡ªindividual, provider, health system, and policy.¡±
ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ co-authors of this report were: Nikita Wagle, PhD, MBBS, MHA; Leticia Nogueira, PhD, MPH; Robin Yabroff, PhD; Farhad Islami, MD, PhD; Ahmedin Jamal, DVM, PhD; Rick Alteri, MD, medical editor for ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Medical and Health Content, and Rebecca Siegel, MPH.?
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