Supporting Cancer Patients and Survivors According to NCI, a person is considered a cancer survivor from the time of cancer diagnosis through the balance of his or her life. Each person diagnosed with cancer has a unique experience ranging from successful treatment and living cancer free for the remainder of life to experiencing varying degrees of side effects and/or a subsequent cancer diagnosis with the same or a different type of cancer. Unprecedented advances in cancer treatments over the past decade have led to more patients living longer and fuller lives after a cancer diagnosis. As of 2022, the most recent year for which such data are available, there are 18.1 million people living with a history of a cancer diagnosis, which equates to about five percent of the U.S. population (7). This is a significant improvement from 50 years ago when cancer survivors constituted only 1.4 percent of the U.S. population. The number of survivors is expected to grow to 26 million by 2040. Understanding and addressing the short- and long-term challenges faced by cancer survivors, supporting their quality of life, and ensuring that care is accessible and equitable are important priorities in cancer survivorship research (7). A cancer diagnosis also impacts friends, family members, and caregivers, who are often the main support network for the survivor. This necessitates widening the focus of research, support, and care beyond the cancer patient and survivor to include individuals who make up the support structure. The following section highlights the challenges faced by cancer survivors and their support network, strategies to improve quality of life, and approaches that have been shown to deliver care most effectively. Challenges Faced by Cancer Survivors Cancer survivors often face physical, psychosocial, and financial challenges throughout their survivorship journey. The number of cancer survivors living with a functional limitation, defined IN THIS SECTION, YOU WILL LEARN: ⚫ As of January 2022, the most recent year for which such data are available, there were more than 18 million people living in the U.S. with a history of a cancer diagnosis and this number is expected to rise to 26 million by 2040. ⚫ A cancer diagnosis has a lasting impact on survivors that brings a host of challenges including numerous short- and long-term side effects related to cancer and its treatments. ⚫ Children, adolescents and young adults, and older adults who have survived cancer face unique and/or exacerbated challenges. ⚫ Physical activity, a healthy diet, and smoking cessation are all proven ways to improve survival and quality of life. ⚫ Patient navigators, clinical care coordinators, and patient advocates can enhance patient outcomes by improving a cancer survivor’s mental and physical health. Between 2013 and 2019, the number of cancer survivors diagnosed with a new malignancy increased 15 percent (556). Among cancer survivors from 2007 to 2016, those who lived in metropolitan counties had a 1-year survival rate of 81.1 percent compared to 77.8 percent in nonmetropolitan counties (557). AACR Cancer Progress Report 2023 Supporting Cancer Patients and Survivors 132
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