Cancer treatment and survivorship statistics, 2022

Overview

This recurring joint report from the American Cancer Society and the US National Cancer Institute estimates how many people in the United States are living with a history of cancer. It also describes how the most common cancers are treated today. The report counts anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer as a survivor, whether they are disease-free or still in treatment.

Data and scope

Survivor numbers are modelled from cancer registry incidence and survival data, national mortality statistics and census population projections. Treatment patterns come from a large hospital-based cancer database. The survivor population keeps growing because the population is growing and ageing and because early detection and treatment have improved. Most survivors are older adults, and many were diagnosed within the past decade. The most common cancers among survivors are prostate, skin melanoma and colorectal cancer in men, and breast, uterine and thyroid cancer in women. For each major cancer type, including childhood and adolescent cancers, the report summarises treatment by stage, survival trends, and short- and long-term health effects.

Racial disparities

For the first time, the report presents treatment data by race for selected cancers. Black patients are less likely than White patients to receive surgery for early-stage rectal and lung cancer. They are also less often diagnosed at an early stage for most cancers. The authors link these gaps to structural racism and unequal access to care, including health insurance.

Survivorship issues

Pain, fatigue and emotional distress are the most common effects of cancer and its treatment. Late effects include subsequent cancers, heart problems, neurological changes, sexual dysfunction and impaired fertility. The report also covers financial hardship, the needs of family caregivers, the underuse of palliative care and rehabilitation, and how the COVID-19 pandemic delayed treatment and added to survivors' difficulties.

Implications

The authors point to fragmented care, poor coordination between oncology and primary care, workforce shortages and a lack of evidence-based guidance for post-treatment care. They call for equitable access to high-quality treatment, rehabilitation and follow-up.