Over the next 10 years, the number of cancer survivors living beyond the age of 65 is likely to increase by nearly fifty percent.

Figures show that in 2008 there were approximately 12 million cancer survivors, almost four times the 1971 number. Julia Rowland, Ph.D., director of the Office of Cancer Survivorship in the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) said:

“We can expect a dramatic increase in the number of older adults who are diagnosed with or carry a history of cancer [which] is largely a disease of aging, so we’re seeing yet another effect of the baby boom generation and we need to prepare for this increase.”

Rowland has produced a report which is a part of focus piece on cancer survivors in the October Edition of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Rowland and fellow researchers looking at data from the NCI Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program. Their report on cancer survivor statistics will become an annual update.

Survivors of cancer include female breast cancer (22 percent), prostate cancer (20 percent) and colorectal cancer (9 percent) as the most common forms of the disease. It is thought these forms are more easily detected and treated, whereas Lung Cancer, one of the most common forms counts only 3 percent amongst the survivor population, it being more complicated to detect and treat and the lungs being more vital organs than the prostate or breasts.

Rowland clarified that the health care community should start to prepare for a wave of cancer survivors who will be a growing part of the changing healthcare landscape in terms of care for the senior population. Ironically the number of oncologists and geriatric specialists is declining just as the need for these specialists appears to be on the rise.

In 2008, 60 percent of the cancer survivors were at least 65 years old. The NCI projects this number will increase to 63 percent by 2020.

She concluded:

“We may be fortunate in that the aging population is healthier than in previous generations, and new technologies could allow for better communication and follow-up.”

Written Rupert Shepherd BSc.